Idaho fires’ progress slows

SALMON, Idaho – The Cabin Creek fire north of Salmon covered about 600 acres Monday morning, but the 300 firefighters battling the blaze had it about 64 percent contained.

The fire, in the Salmon-Challis National Forest roughly eight miles west of North Fork, was burning in timber, brush and grass, fire managers said.

Cloud cover, high humidity and rain over the weekend had helped slow the fire’s spread.

“Conditions have been really awesome for firefighting,” said Murray Shoemaker, an East Great Basin fire information officer. “We’ve got a good chance to catch this thing before it spreads some more.”

Residents living on Indian Creek Road were still on evacuation alert, but Shoemaker said some people have returned to their homes.

Fire managers say they expect to contain the blaze by Thursday.

Meanwhile, the 782-acre Dollar fire, burning in the Boise National Forest about 16 miles northeast of Cascade, was slowed over the weekend as it moved into an area that had burned in past years.

Fire officials say they expect to contain the blaze by Saturday.