Crews knock down wildfire that spurred evacuations

A 100-acre wildfire between Kendrick and Juliaetta, Idaho, knocked out power and spurred some residents to voluntarily evacuate Tuesday afternoon, but authorities knocked down the blaze in about five hours.

Local fire departments and the Idaho Department of Lands brought in ground crews, five air tankers and two helicopters to attack the blaze, said Jim Newton, IDL state duty officer. Some structures were threatened, but none were burned nor were there any injuries.

The fire was reported at 3:15 p.m. and was being mopped up by 8:45 p.m., said Kathy Gaia, a dispatcher at the Latah County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities closed Highway 3 for several hours.

About 1,400 Avista Utilities customers lost power, but most had it back by 9:15 p.m., spokesman Hugh Imhof said.

Twenty firefighters were assigned to mop up the fire overnight, and about 20 were expected to continue today, Newton said.