Comet Fire is now 83 percent contained

UPDATE: 8/3/16 11:30 a.m.

An aircraft with thermal imaging capability measured the Roaring Fire at 1,334 acres Tuesday night. Most of the fire spread has been southward within the Roaring Creek drainage and away from the Main Salmon River corridor. The fire is not impacting river use or camps, although there is a possibility of trail closures in the future.

A new fire, called Thompson Gulch, started on August 1. Estimated at 2 to 3 acres, it was located at the head of Dahlonega Creek between the Continental Divide Trail and Forest Road 079 near Big Hole Pass. The fire is officially contained. About 35 firefighters aided by two helicopters extinguished the fire.

There were no significant changes in the Comet Fire overnight.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Comet Fire, which started by lightning on July 26, is now 83 percent contained. It has not increased above 357 acres in the past four days.

An emergency area closure for the area, south of North Fork on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, has been lifted.

Two engines assigned to the Comet Fire helped the North Fork Fire Department put out a half-acre fire on private property located adjacent to Highway 93 Monday.

The nearby Roaring Fire, is estimated at 186 acres. It started by lightning during the same storm blamed for starting the Comet Fire on July 26. It is burning in a remote section of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness above the confluence of the Middle Fork Salmon and Salmon Rivers.

The Roaring Fire is adjacent the Goat Fire and both are being allowed to play fire’s natural role in wilderness. It is not impacting river use or camps at this time, but if it grows, some trail closures may be considered.

Another fire is burning on both sides of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River at Hospital Bar. The Hospital Bar fire was estimated at 102 acres. No closures are in place at this time.