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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Crews bolster fire lines to contain central Idaho wildfire

This Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016 photo shows a staging area with an information board as smoke from a wildfire rises near Lowman, Idaho. (Rebecca Boone / Associated Press)
Associated Press

LOWMAN, Idaho – Fire officials say work to shore up fire lines and complete burnout operations is continuing Tuesday on a 120-square-mile wildfire burning in central Idaho.

Structure protection remains for homes in the area with residents of about 125 homes told to make preparations for a potential evacuation.

The Banks-Lowman Road remains closed west of Lowman but State Highway 21 is open.

About 1,800 firefighters are battling the blaze that is 50 percent contained but that grew 5 square miles in the last day.

The fire is mostly burning to the north and to the west.

Officials say there’s a chance of thunderstorms over the next several days along with unseasonably warm temperature and low humidity during the day.

But a cooling trend is expected Thursday and Friday.