Updated August 24, 2012 at 1:41 p.m.:
The Mustang Complex Fire near Salmon grew dramatically Thursday. That prompted an evacuation order for Spring Creek and Indian Creek residents. In fact, it grew so fast that firefighters had to leave their posts around 11 p.m. last night.
“The fire was growing too hot and too erratic and so we pulled the firefighters off,” says fire spokeswoman Lisa Radosevich-Craig. She blames it on gusty winds. She says the crews were back on the fire line this morning, but it could flare up again this afternoon.
“Yesterday it grew by about 20,000 acres, we’re under a red flag warning for gusty winds and they were very gusty yesterday, last night and they are going to continue today,” says Radosevich-Craig.
About 15 homes are threatened right now. Pre-evacuation notices have also been issued from Indian Creek to the Highway 93 Corridor.
Radosevich-Craig says most of the people who've evacuated are staying with family and friends. A center has been set up at the Salmon Valley Baptist Church for anyone who's been displaced by the fire.
The Mustang Complex Fire has grown to 130,000 acres.
Copyright 2012 Boise State Public Radio
Lemhi County Sheriff Lynn Bowerman ordered mandatory evacuations Thursday night for residents living in the Spring Creek and Indian Creek drainage. That’s because the nearly 100,000 acre wildfire known as the Mustang Complexhas reached the pre-determined areas set for evacuations.
Residents are urged to evacuate as quickly as possible and in an orderly manner.
The Mustang Complex is burning in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. It’s in the head of Spring Creek and Indian Creek. It’s headed northwest toward the Montana state line.
This wildfire started in late July from lightning and thunderstorms that started several fires. Five of these fires burned into one.
You can find more information by contacting the Mustang Complex Fire Information center at 208-865-2207. A fire information center is set up at the North Folk Fire Station. It’s open to the public from 8:00am to 8:00pm.
Copyright 2012 Boise State Public Radio
