Governor Otter issued Owyhee County a disaster declaration Saturday afternoon to provide assistance to the communities that have been affected by the Soda Fire.
With favorable weather conditions over the weekend, firefighters made headway to reinforce and secure containment lines and mop up unburned islands. The cooler temperatures and decreased winds bought crews time to look for potential problem areas in preparation for a cold front with wind gusts arriving Monday afternoon.
To date, the Soda Fire has scorched over 280,000 acres of brush and short grass and is currently 70 percent contained. Today Idaho power crews will work to continue replacing power poles and restore power to affected areas.
Air quality is expected to remain in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category, according to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. Cooler temperatures and light to moderate winds are expected to increase smoke impacts, especially in the early morning.
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