Eight new fires started after a storm rumbled through the Boise National Forest Tuesday night. More than 4,000 lighting strikes were reported. The largest lightning-caused fire had reportedly burned 150 acres by this morning. Crews were ready for new starts after a red flag warning went into effect.
Nearby, the Pine Creek Fire has claimed about 1,500 acres since it started on Monday afternoon. The blaze is about 10 percent contained, with 240 firefighters at work.
A Type 2 incident management team is now coordinating this fire crews today will attempt to create a fire line. Grimes Creek Road remains open for residents and no homes are threatened.
In the Salmon-Challis National Forest, the Papoose Fire continues to burn slowly near the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Storms moved through the area Tuesday, putting people on alert for flash floods. Fire managers are watching for storms again today.
According to Mike McMillan with the U.S. Forest Service in Salmon, the terrain and relative slow growth of the fire has created a kind of waiting game. They will coordinate with rafters on the river if the fire moves down the banks and threatens designated campsites.
