BY KAREN BOSSICK

Firefighters from Blaine County Fire and Rescue reported to reports of a wildland fire in Martin Canyon, off Muldoon Canyon Road east of Bellevue at about 5:23 p.m. Thursday, July 9.

Firefighters from the Sun Valley Fire Department, Bellevue Fire Department and Carey Fire Department also responded.

Fueled by sustained winds, the fire spread rapidly up Martin Canyon and began to edge into Slaughterhouse Canyon burning in tall grass and sagebrush on Bureau of Land Management property.

Firefighters approach the trailhead at the bottom of Carbonate Mountain.

The BLM assumed primary responsibility and requested aerial firefighting resources.

At 11 p.m., the fire was estimated to be between 500 and 1,000 acres. BLM crews will remain actively engaged in the area for the immediate future. The fire growth was expected to slow overnight with cooler overnight temperatures and lower wind speeds.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. It is in an area where a wildfire believed to be ignited by target practice occurred several years ago.

The Blaine County Sheriff's Office reported late Thursday night that Slaughterhouse Canyon has been closed to public access and nearby residents issued a Level Set 2 evacuation warning, meaning they should be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice.

.Meanwhile, members of Blaine County Fire and Rescue brought a 73-year-old woman down from Carbonate Mountain on Wednesday after the woman sustained an ankle injury in a fall.

Crews responded to the site west of Hop Porter Park in Hailey at noon after the woman fell while hiking down the steep ridgeline trail and was unable to continue her descent.

Firefighters hiked to the woman, approximately 600 vertical feet above the trailhead, where they assessed her injuries, provided medical care and stabilized her. A second team carried a wheeled rescue litter up the mountain and used it to transport the woman down the steep switchbacks to the trailhead.

The operation serves as a reminder that hikers should wear appropriate footwear, carry plenty of water, let someone know their planned route and expected return time and consider hiking with a partner, said Lenny Joseph, media relations director for Blaine County Fire and Rescue. As temperatures remain warm, it’s important to stay hydrated and recognize personal physical limits, he added.