UPDATE 2:03 p.m.: Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter has issued a disaster declaration for Elmore County. The declaration allows resources from Boise, Meridian, Eagle and Donnelly to help protect areas that don't have firefighters of their own. The Elk and Pony Complexes continue to threaten communities.
ORIGINAL STORY: Authorities are once again urging residents of the town of Pine to evacuate because of a nearby wildfire. The Elk Complex spread by six miles Saturday. By Sunday, it was burning close to the town of Pine. To date, officials say it's burned 90,250 acres since lightning ignited the fire last Thursday night. Pine was threatened by the Trinity Ridge fire in August 2012 but was ultimately saved.
On Sunday, the Elk Complex was the nation's top wildfire priority. The fire's size and extreme behavior has forced the closure of three-quarters of a million acres of the Boise National Forest. Officials say they're concerned campers could be overrun by the flames.
Elk Complex Incident Commander Rich Harvey tells The Times-News the blaze isn't cooperating. “It’s going to take time before we get the boots on the ground that we need,” Harvey said.
Harvey told the Times-News heavy smoke is making it difficult to fight the fire from the air. “We are trying our damnedest to get helicopters in here,” he said.
The nearby Pony Complex Fire - also started by lightning last Thursday - is even larger. It's burned 120,000 acres and burned cabins Sunday in the Syrup Creek area.
The 125-square-mile Elk Complex and the 187-square-mile Pony Complex are burning fewer than 50 miles from each other in the midsection of the state.
Forecasters say storms and high winds could start more fires in the state Monday. Red Flag warnings will be in effect Monday afternoon and evening.
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