Otter to tour Idaho’s biggest wildfires

The governor plans to tour areas in south-central Idaho where wildfires have burned hundreds of square miles.

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s office says he will be traveling Tuesday with Idaho Adjutant General Major General Gary Sayler and Col. Brad Richy, head of the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security. They are expected to leave Boise’s Gowen field for the helicopter tour around 2:30 p.m.

The group has stops planned in Pine and Stanley, depending on the fire conditions.

A red flag warning was issued Tuesday for the Trinity Ridge fire near the small towns of Pine and Featherville, where thunderstorms were expected to bring erratic winds. The fire has burned 141 square miles, with heavy smoke forcing the evacuation of Featherville.

Near Stanley, a 146-square-mile wildfire was burning in heavy timber.