Bench Lake Fire continues to roar at 23% containment as cold front expected Wednesday

STANLEY – The Bench Lake Fire continues to roar and has covered 2,595 acres while being 23% contained.

The U.S. Forest Service says 468 unit are now fighting nan fire, pinch 14 occurrence engines, 2 scooper planes and six helicopters.

According to a news release, firefighting efforts person resulted successful 23% containment on nan fire’s eastbound edge.

“Additional gains were made connected nan northwest information of nan occurrence arsenic hotshot crews completed manus lines and reduced power pinch portable pumps and hoses,” nan merchandise says.

A beardown acold beforehand is expected Wednesday, pinch winds perchance reaching complete 30 miles an hour, which nan wood work says will “test constructed occurrence lines.”

Map of nan Bench Lake Fire arsenic of July 23. | U.S. Forest Service

“Fire behavior, wherever unburned fuels stay wrong containment lines, will proceed generating visible smoke,” according to nan release. “This inclination is expected to proceed until seasonal upwind patterns change.”

The wood work says they are continuing to activity connected Decker Flats Road (#210) to region nan dense vegetation, and crews person besides made advancement removing hazardous fuels astir nan Sawtooth National Forest Stanley Ranger Station and nan Fish Hatchery.

Restrictions

The Sawtooth National Forest has initiated Stage 1 occurrence restrictions wrong nan National Forest System lands boundaries connected nan Sawtooth and Cassia zones.

Under these restrictions, campfires are allowed only successful recreation sites wrong metallic aliases actual occurrence pits. Fires of immoderate benignant are not allowed successful immoderate dispersed camping areas.

Closures

Sawtooth National Recreation Area officials issued an expanded emergency closure for nan Bench Lake Fire July 18 for nan Redfish Lake recreation complex, including nan lodge and associated buildings, roads, trails, trailheads, and campgrounds successful nan area.

Highways 75 and 21 stay open. Click here for a representation and much specifications connected nan closure order.

Custer County residents are encouraged to motion up for CodeRED to person emergency alerts.

Residents tin motion up for CodeRED by texting CUSTER to 99411 aliases enrolling online here.

Additional accusation astir Custer County’s Ready, Set, Go levels tin beryllium recovered connected nan Custer County Sheriff’s Facebook page.