BY KAREN BOSSICK
The Bible Back Fire near Castle Peak nearly doubled in size Tuesday, growing from 45 acres to 75.
It was spreading to the northeast—away from populated areas like Smiley Creek and towards the very popular Castle Peak area.
Crews took advantage of cool temperatures to secure the southwest side of the fire by building a fire line, cutting snags near the perimeter and trying to smother hot spots.
The line they built ties into the natural rock scree barrier on the northwest perimeter with the hopes of preventing the fire from moving to the west.
While temperatures were cooler, the relative humidity was much lower on Tuesday, which caused the fire to be more active in the afternoon.
Even as firefighters worked to preserve the popular recreational area, representatives of the Sawtooth National Forest announced that they were signing the completed plan for the Hemingway-Boulders and Cecil D. Andrus-White Clouds Wilderness.
Congressman Mike Simpson’s legislation to create the wilderness area was signed into law by President Barack Obama in August 2015. But the Sawtooth National Forest and Bureau of Land Management-Idaho Falls District had three year to complete the wilderness plan, which included an amendment to the Sawtooth National Forest Forest Plan.
The Environmental Analysis was completed, then the plan was created to meet Congressional intent while providing the flexibility local agencies needed to protect the area.
LIGHTNING STRIKES AGAIN
Lightning has started a new fire on the Sawtooth National Forest in the Lime Creek drainage on the Fairfield Ranger District.
The Stewart Creek Fire, detected at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, is burning in Douglas fir forest where there is a lot of dead and down timber. It’s in remote, rugged and steep terrain and fuels are extremely dry, thanks to the hot and dry weather of the past several weeks. It is burning towards Iron Mountain and is very active.
Currently, 48 firefighters are working the fire, including eight smoke jumpers, and 15 heli-tack crew members. Heavy air tankers are dropping retardant, and three helicopters are dumping water. A Type 3 Management team has been ordered for the fire.
The Roanhide Trail is closed at the junction with the No. 055 trail.