Wildfire threatens homes in resort area

BOISE – Firefighters in central Idaho worked Saturday to protect about 35 homes where voluntary evacuations were in effect after a fire fanned by winds jumped a road about eight miles west of the resort community of Ketchum.

The homes ranged from summer residences to at least one home worth about $10 million, said Blair Choate, a dispatcher for the city of Ketchum.

“Everything from very rustic to some really, really nice places out there,” Choate said. “When the wind picked up this afternoon, that’s when it took off and jumped the road.”

He said about 100 federal firefighters, including at least one smokejumping crew, joined local crews to fight the 3,500-acre Castle Rock Fire, with more firefighters expected to arrive Sunday.

Two airtankers and three helicopters were also working on the fire.

It was unclear when the fire started or what caused it, but no injuries or destroyed buildings were reported, Choate said.