Evacuations adjusted in Mustang Fire
The Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office revised the evacuation levels along U.S. Highway 93 on Thursday. The sheriff’s office said it made the changes due to the recent fire behavior and the fire’s current location relative to the highway.
The sheriff’s office said residents, business owners and visitors need to be aware that further changes to evacuation levels may occur at any time based on fire behavior. The following are the revised evacaution levels, as released by the sheriff:
From North Fork Fire Department at Mile Post 326.5 and south on Highway 93, all homes remain atEvacuation Pre-Level 1 Alert.From North Fork Fire Department at Mile Post 326.5 and north on Highway 93 to Quartz Creek at Mile Post 339.6, all homes in the Highway 93 corridor are atEvacuation Level 2. This includes the Town of Gibbonsville and the Dahlonega Road community. From Quartz Creek at Mile Post 339.6 and north on Highway 93 to Lost Trail Pass, all homes are atEvacuation Level 1. The Hulls Creek, Hughes Creek, and Ditch Creek communities remain atEvacuation Level 3.The Sheep Creek community is now atEvacuation Level 2. The existingEvacuation Level 3for Indian Creek and Sage Creek residents remains in effect. At Evacuation Level 1, preparation is critically important and should include precautionary movement of persons with special needs, movement of mobile property, pets and livestock. If conditions change, every attempt will be made to notify residents and businesses. At Evacuation Level 2, conditions indicate a good probability that hazards associated with the approaching fire will severely limit our ability to provide emergency service protection. This is a situation where dangerous conditions exist that may threaten residents and/or residences. Residents must be fully prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. This may be the only notice residentsreceive – every attempt will be made to advise residents and businesses as conditions change. At Evacuation Level 3, residents are strongly advised to leave their property immediately, as there is immediate threat to life and safety. By Section 46-1008 of the Idaho Code, with the signed proclamation by Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, an immediate evacuation of the area is required. The sheriff will use all reasonable means to evacuate residents from the area and residents will not be allowed to return until conditions are safe (If you choose to ignore this evacuation level, understand that emergency services may not be available.).
Emergency officials will hold a community meeting at the North Fork Community Center at 7 p.m. Thursday. They will give the public information on the fire and their plans to fight it, as well as address the current evacuation levels. The public will be able to ask questions.
