Sun Valley fire near containment

BOISE – A wildfire in central Idaho that forced the evacuation of 2,500 homes – some worth millions – and threatened Sun Valley Resort’s ski area was expected to be contained Monday, a fire manager said Saturday.

The mandatory evacuation order was lifted for the final 100 homes along Warm Springs Road west of Ketchum, but they remained under a voluntary evacuation, said Tina Boehle, information officer for the Castle Rock fire.

“We’re looking forward to containing this fire,” she said. “Things are looking very good.”

The lightning-caused fire that started Aug. 16 was 78 percent contained and had burned 74 square miles, she said.

A total of 1,547 fire managers and firefighters were assigned to the blaze, but some had been demobilized to head for other fires.

The number of helicopters, 11, and engines, 93, was also down from a few days ago.

No structures had been lost and no serious injuries were reported, Boehle said.

A Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation Team was en route to figure out ways to prevent erosion, Boehle said.

“They’ll be assessing what the area needs for rehabilitation to prevent erosion and damage to life and property,” she said.

“They’re going to be putting a plan together on what should be done immediately and what should be done down the road.”

Ten large wildfires were being fought in Idaho on Saturday, and had burned a combined 1,300 square miles.

The lightning-caused Grey’s Creek fire, about 125 miles north of Boise, had grown to 20 square miles and was 5 percent contained.

Thick smoke prevented air tankers from making drops Saturday morning, but they flew in the afternoon, fire information officer Jerry Kelly said.

Another 250 firefighters had arrived and more were expected who were being let go from the Castle Rock fire, he said.

The lightning-caused fire was burning in grass, sagebrush, and timber. Tamarack Resort was about eight miles away, but the fire wasn’t moving in that direction, Kelly said.

The largest blaze in the state remained the Cascade Complex of fires burning in the Boise National Forest about 16 miles northeast of Cascade. Those fires had consumed 390 square miles and were 26 percent contained.

In Oregon

Firefighters in Central Oregon are working to contain a 1,200-acre fire that is burning within three miles of Black Butte Ranch.

The G.W. fire, which began in the Mount Washington Wilderness area, is just five percent contained, according to fire officials.

Residents of Black Butte Ranch have been told they should be prepared to leave if the fire spreads significantly, but no evacuation notice has been issued yet.

The main fire is burning on Forest Service land, along with portions on private lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry.

The Pacific Crest Trail, which winds through the area, remains open, but there is a closure just east of the trail in the Mount Washington Wilderness.

Assorted Forest Service roads in the area are also closed.