Sharps Fire now 57 percent contained
The Sharps Fire, started by exploding targets near Bellevue last week, is now estimated at 64,575 acres and is 57 percent contained.
Managers said the fire is still moving up the Little Wood River towards Swede Peak. The fire was expected to torch in timbered islands of conifers and aspens. Winds are expected to be lighter, but will remain gusty. Firefighters expected growth to the north to moderate with lower temperatures.
There are still a number of closures and changing evacuation and pre-evacuation orders. People in affected areas should prepare to leave at a moment’s notice, including documents, medications and pets.
As of Monday morning:
Closures: Muldoon Canyon Road is closed from EE-DA-HO Ranch (east of Bellevue). East Fork Road is closed at Triumph. Little Wood Reservoir Road is closed at Hunt Lane. Quigley and Slaughterhouse Creek Road are closed where the pavement ends. High Five, Road Canyon Road, and Baugh Creek roads are also closed. The closures restrict access into the fire area where crews are working.
The Sawtooth National Forest implemented an Area Closure on Wednesday, August 1 for the Sharps Fire area. This includes all roads and trails, and the fire area until September 30, 2018 or until rescinded by the Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor. The full closure order and map can be found under the Closure tab on the Sharps Fire Inciwebpage.
The BLM has temporarily closed public lands in and around the Sharps fire in Blaine County. This includes all BLM-managed lands east of Highway 75, south of East Fork Road, then south of the Sawtooth National Forest Boundary, west of Fish Creek Road, and north of US Highway 20, and east of Gannett Road.
Lifted Evacuations: The Mandatory Evacuation has been lifted for Little Wood Reservoir Road north of the reservoir including the High Five Creek campground and Little Wood Recreation area campground.
·Little Wood Reservoir Road will REMAIN CLOSED at Hunt Lane to Non-Residents.
Pre-Evacuation Notice: Pre-evacuation remains in effect for residents north and east of the intersection of Buttercup Road and Myrtle Street in Hailey including the following subdivisions: Old Cutters/Buttercup Subdivision, South Hiawatha, North Hiawatha Red Devil, Indian Creek, Valley Club, Ohio Gulch, Heatherlands, and all of East Fork. Preevacuation notices are being re-evaluated daily.
