Halstead Fire grows to 83K acres

The Halstead Fire is quickly growing as evacuations take effect.

Flames have scorched more than 83,000 acres, while the fire moves southeast toward Sunbeam Village and the Yankee Fork area. It had been burning about 77,000 acres Thursday.

The Custer County Sheriff’s Office is urging people in those areas to evacuate.

The Halstead fire incident commander said 30 homes are affected, and only 12 of them belong to permanent residents.

Six residents left and are staying with friends and family.

The fire is burning 18 miles northwest of Stanley. Emergency crews also have evacuated the Bradley Memorial Boy Scout Camp, Lola Creek Campground, Lola Creek Spura A and Marsh Creek Trailhead and Beaver Creek Campground.

“This is not a fire that will be put out soon or put out easily,” the Forest Service had said in a recent news release.

The Halstead Fire is actively burning in subalpine fir, spruce and lodge pole pine, forest officials said. The lightning-caused fire ignited July 27.

We’ll have more on the fire at 9 on KXPI and 10 on Local News 8.