Update Aug. 20, 3:06 p.m.: More Blaine County residents can return home who were forced to evacuate because of the Beaver Creek Fire.
The latest update from the Blaine County sheriff's office reiterates that people who are allowed to go back are still under a pre-evacuation notice and should still be prepared to evacuate.
NOTIFICATION RETURN At this time the Blaine County Sheriff is announcing the lifting of Mandatory Evacuation and Return to PRE-EVACUATION status for the following areas only: EFFECTIVE 3:00 p.m. Tuesday August 20, 2013. From Zinc Spur north to south side of Greenhorn Bridge west of Hwy 75 will be allowed to RETURN to PRE-EVACUATION STATUS.
Blaine County reports 1,125 homes are still under mandatory evacuation orders.
Update, August 20, 1:11 p.m.: The Blaine County sheriff has continued lifting mandatory evacuation orders. Updates were announced through the sheriff's office website at 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Update.....August 20, 2013 12:00 p.m. NOTIFICATION RETURN At this time the Blaine County Sheriff is announcing the lifting of Mandatory Evacuation and Return to PRE-EVACUATION status for the following areas only: EFFECTIVE 12:00 p.m. Tuesday August 20, 2013. Residents on the west side of Hwy 75 from McKercher Blvd. north up to and including Zinc Spur and Deer Creek will be allowed to RETURN to PRE-EVACUATION STATUS. Note: Only Deer Creek residents will be allowed west of the Deer Creek bridge. Update....August 20, 2013 11:00 a.m. RETURN NOTIFICATION At this time the Blaine County Sheriff is announcing the lifting of Mandatory Evacuation and Return to PRE-EVACUATION status for the following areas only: EFFECTIVE 11:00 a.m. Tuesday August 20, 2013. Residents of East Fork Canyon including Triumph will be allowed to RETURN to PRE-EVACUATION STATUS. These Return Notifications do NOT include any other areas at this time. Please maintain situational awareness and be prepared to depart again IMMEDIATELY should conditions change. -Blaine County sheriff's website
Update, August 19, 9:45 p.m.: The Blaine County sheriff this afternoon lifted pre-evacuation notices for parts of Ketchum and Sun Valley. The announcement says residents who live east of the bike path from Elkhorn Rd. to Highway 75 north to Saddle Rd. no longer need to be on alert for evacuations. The change does not affect residents in Warms Springs and Lane Ranch.
Pre-evacuation notices remains in place for residents living west of the bike path in Ketchum, from Elkhorn Rd. to Highway 75 north to Saddle Rd.
Here's the full announcement, including areas that remain evacuated:
Update....August 19, 2013 5:30 p.m. PRE-EVACUATION NOTIFICATION LIFTED At this time the Blaine County Sheriff is announcing that the Pre-Evacuation status has been lifted for the following areas: Effective 5:30 p.m. Monday August 19, 2013 Portions of Ketchum and Sun Valley on the east side of bike path from Elkhorn Road and Hwy 75 north to Saddle Road are lifted from Pre-Evacuation. Does not include Warm Springs and Lane Ranch (Please NOTE the west side of the bike path in Ketchum from Elkhorn Road and Hwy 75 north to Saddle Road WILL REMAIN on Pre-Evacuation Notice) THIS does NOT include any other Pre-Evacuated areas at this time. Please maintain situational awareness and be prepared to depart again should conditions change. We will continue to analyze fire activity hourly to determine when it is safe to allow residents to return to their homes and eliminate Pre-Evacuation zones. Notification Updates will be sent out to areas as soon as possible. CURRENT MANDATORY EVACUATION AREAS--Take your essentials belongings and pets and GO NOW. Once you have left you will not be let back in until the Evacuation Order is lifted. **Galena Summit south to North Fork (SNRA Headquarters) on both sides of Hwy 75 including Easley. ** Glassford Heights North to SNRA on both sides of Hwy 75 including Fox Creek, Eagle Creek, Chocolate Gulch and North Fork Trailer Park **Hospital bridge south up to and including all East Fork on both sides of Highway including Broadway Run and the Meadows **Greenhorn Gulch, Golden Eagle, and Timber Gulch south down to Treasure Lane west of Hwy 75 **All Deer Creek from the Hwy 75 west ** Treasure Lane south to including Aspen Lakes west of Hwy 75 (does not include Northridge) ** Croy Creek Canyon from Big Wood Bridge west All public lands from Galena Summit south the the SNRA Headquarters are closed on both sides of Hwy 75. Additionally public lands north of Hwy 20 to Galena Summit are closed west of Hwy 75. CURRENT PRE-EVACUATION AREAS- Be prepared to leave immediately if conditions change **All Ohio Gulch, and Heatherlands **Indian Creek and Valley Club **The west side of the bike path in Ketchum from Elkhorn Road and Hwy 75 north to Saddle Road **Residents of Hailey west of River Street including Queen of the Hills Drive, Sherwood Forest and Della View Subdivision (Does not include Albertson's) -Blaine County sheriff's website
Update, August 19, 11:38 a.m.: The Blaine County sheriff has announced that homeowners in the Ohio Gulch and the Heatherlands areas are the latest to be allowed to return home. The sheriff’s office made the announcement this morning on its website.
The previous mandatory evacuation has been lifted. The areas return to a pre-evacuation notice.
The sheriff’s department asks residents being allowed to go back to maintain “situational awareness” in case conditions with the Beaver Creek Fire change.
Here’s the latest announcement:
RETURN NOTIFICATION At this time the Blaine County Sheriff is announcing the lifting of Mandatory Evacuation and Return to PRE-EVACUATION status for the following areas only: EFFECTIVE 11:30 a.m. Monday August 19, 2013. Residents of Ohio Gulch and the Heatherlands will be allowed to RETURN to PRE-EVACUATION STATUS. This Return Notification does NOT include any other areas at this time. Please maintain situational awareness and be prepared to depart again IMMEDIATELY should conditions change. -Blaine County Sheriff's website
Update, August 19, 11:10 a.m.: The Blaine County sheriff has announced that homeowners in the Valley Club area can return home. The sheriff’s office made the announcement this morning on its website.
The previous mandatory evacuation for the neighborhood has been lifted. The area is now on a pre-evacuation notice, meaning residents could be told to leave again if conditions warrant.
The announcement came an hour after the sheriff's office said residents of Indian Creek could return to their homes.
Here’s the latest announcement:
RETURN NOTIFICATION At this time the Blaine County Sheriff is announcing the lifting of Mandatory Evacuation and Return to PRE-EVACUATION status for the following areas: EFFECTIVE 10:00 a.m. Monday August 19, 2013. Residents of THE VALLEY CLUB will be allowed to RETURN VIA THE FOLLOWING ROUTE: Use the north Valley Club entrance via Ohio Gulch DO NOT use the North Buttercup entrance from the Highway. This Return Notification does NOT include any other areas at this time. The Valley Club area will REMAIN ON PRE-EVACUATION STATUS. - Blaine County Sheriff’s website
Original post: The Blaine County sheriff has announced that residents of the Indian Creek area are now being allowed to return to their homes.
The area was evacuated Friday afternoon after the Beaver Creek Fire advanced toward the neighborhood. The announcement affects about 100 homes. The area remains on a pre-evacuation alert.
The sheriff’s office says the status of other areas hasn’t changed, but adds that it’s evaluating fire activity hourly to “determine when it is safe to allow residents to return to their homes”.
Here’s the full announcement:
At this time the Blaine County Sheriff is announcing the lifting of Mandatory Evacuation and Return to PRE-EVACUATION status for the following areas only: EFFECTIVE 9:00 a.m. Monday August 19, 2013. Residents of INDIAN CREEK will be allowed to RETURN VIA THE FOLLOWING ROUTE: East on McKercher Blvd Albertson's light), north on Buttercup to Indian Creek Road. DO NOT use the North Buttercup entrance from the Highway. This Return Notification does NOT include any other areas at this time. The INDIAN CREEK area will REMAIN ON PRE-EVACUATION STATUS. Please maintain situational awareness and be prepared to depart again IMMEDIATELY should conditions change. We will continue to analyze fire activity hourly to determine when it is safe to allow residents to return to their homes. Return Notification Updates will be sent out to areas as soon as possible. -Blaine County Sheriff’s website
The following mandatory evacuation orders are still in effect:
- Galena Summit south to North Fork (SNRA Headquarters) on both sides of Hwy 75 including Easley. (Does not include Galena Lodge)
- Glassford Heights North to SNRA on both sides of Hwy 75 including Fox Creek, Eagle Creek, Chocolate Gulch and North Fork Trailer Park
- Hospital bridge south up to and including all East Fork on both sides of Highway including Broadway Run
- Greenhorn Gulch, Golden Eagle, and Timber Gulch south down to Treasure Lane west of Hwy 75
- Ohio Gulch, and Heatherlands (includes Valley Club)
- All Deer Creek from the Hwy 75 west
- Treasure Lane south to including Aspen Lakes west of Hwy 75 (does not include Northridge)
- Croy Creek Canyon from Big Wood Bridge west
The Beaver Creek Fire has burned 104,457 acres or 163 square miles since it was started by lightning on Aug. 7. It's currently 8 percent contained and more than 1,100 personnel are working to manage the blaze.