Trinity Ridge Fire Update 8-18-2012 2100
Incident: Trinity Ridge Fire Wildfire
Released: 8/18/2012
The Elmore County Sheriff has ordered an immediate evacuation of the Featherville area from Featherville to the Paradise area because of thick smoke and reduced visibility due to the Trinity Ridge Fire. Pine Featherville Road is now closed to all but Fire and emergency traffic. An Evacuation Center has been set up by the Red Cross at the Pine Senior Center and the Pines Resort.
There will be a community meeting tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the Senior Center in Pine.
Today's Events: An inversion remained over the fire area for much of the day providing firefighters an opportunity to build direct handline on portions of the fire to the summit of Dog Mountain and beyond. Heavy smoke compromised visibility, grounding air support for most of the day. Currently there are two fire fronts headed towards Featherville; one from the north approximately three miles away and one from the west about four miles away. Fire managers and county officials have anticipated the movement of the fire and have been working with the residents over the last few days to prepare them for the evacuation.
The fire is projected to move and spread in all directions tomorrow. Firefighters will continue prepping structures and building line in threatened areas. Additional crews and air support arrived on the fire today. Air operations assisted firefighters on the northwest corner to reduce fire spreading to the west.
Closures and Public Safety:
Evacuations: Dutch Creek, Swanholm, Weatherby and Queen River Campground have all been evacuated. Those with respiratory health conditions in Atlanta are advised to evacuate the area. Many roads are currently closed as outlined in the Boise National Forest Trinity Ridge Fire Road Closure Order Number 0402-00-22 signed by Boise and Sawtooth Forest Supervisors on August 16th, 2012.
The road closure is in effect at the following locations:
-Road 227 at the county line east of Baumgartner Campground (Campground is closed)
-Intersection of Highway 20 and FH 61 (Pine-Featherville Rd)
-Intersection of Lester Creek Rd and Lake Creek Rd
The roads, as described above, enter into areas with ongoing wildfire activity. The area is closed for public safety and protection from hazards associated with wildfire.
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