Rabbit Foot fire expanding under red flag conditions

Incident managers temporarily closed a spike camp several miles south of the Rabbit Foot fire Thursday night due to heavy smoke forecasts. Overnight infrared flight data is being used to adapt firefighting strategies Friday to assure firefighter safety and help to strategically deploy resources.

Temporary flight restrictions for non-incident aircraft, including drones, was expanded to the north and east Thursday as a precaution.

The fire was estimated at 6,357 acres Friday morning and is still zero percent contained. It is expected to grow as firefighters were hampered by very rough terrain, limited access, spotting and poor visibility. The fire expanded in hot, dry conditions.

A Red Flag warning for temperatures near 90 and humidity as low as 8 to 13 percent is in effect through midnight Saturday. Challis could see record highs of 102 degrees Friday. Winds shifted to the south/southeast Friday morning and were expected to gust to 17 miles per hour Friday afternoon.

Firefighters said there is a very high likelihood of spot fires up to a quarter of a mile ahead of the fire and there could be substantial growth to the north and northeast Friday.

Fire managers are scouting for containment opportunities, some as far north as the 2011 Salt Fire area.

Latest road closure information is available here.