4,000 acre wildfire burning west of Challis
Update August 27, 2015: Officials have confirmedthat the Elevenmile fire was started by a confirmed lightning strike that occurred nearly two weeks ago. Smoke jumpers from McCall and Alaska were on the fire within 40 minutes of the initial fire report.
A wildfire continues to burn and grow in size west of Challis in Custer County.
The fire is being called The Elevenmile Fire. Estimates from the U.S. Forest Service have the fire at over 4,000 acres with 0% containment.
The U.S. Forest Service says the fire is burning about 17 miles west of town inthe Yankee Fork drainage. “The fire is burning in difficult terrain with limited access. Fuel types consist of lodgepole and a large component of dead standing lodgepole due to mountain pine beetle infestations. Fire activity is high; crowning, torching, spotting and heavy smoke are present.”
” Yesterday the fire was moving in a North Northeast direction. So in relationship if you look at a map, it’s kind of towards the Custer Motorway. Further out it would be the Frank church wilderness area” saysStacy Baker, Public Information Officer for the Eleven-Mile Fire.
An Emergency Area Closure is in effect and includes the following roads:
• Bayhorse Road ( #40051)
• Trealor Creek Road (#40045)
• Custer Motor Way (#40070) at Five Mile Creek & Junction with Garden Creek Road (#400901)
• Kinnikinic Creek Road (#40053)
• Mill Creek Campground
• Mosquito Flat Campground
Sleeping Deer Road (#40086) is OPEN
Fire crews from around the West including crews from Arizona, Utah, and Nevada are arriving in Challis to help.
More information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.
