Bench Lake Fire continues to spread, only 3% contained as locals raise money for Redfish Lodge employees

STANLEY —- The Bench Lake Fire successful nan Sawtooth National Forest has burned astir 1,850 acres successful six days.

At slightest 324 unit proceed to conflict nan blaze pinch 4 helicopters, 2 scooper planes and 13 occurrence engines.

According to a news merchandise from nan U.S. Forest Service, crews began utilizing occurrence arsenic a buffer to pain vegetation betwixt nan 101 Trail and nan bluish separator of nan occurrence connected Tuesday.

By intentionally mounting fires, crews create a break successful continuous fuels, reducing occurrence strength arsenic it approaches nan way and limiting spreading beyond it.

“If conditions beryllium favorable later (Wednesday), crews scheme to complete nan backfire to guideline nan main occurrence to nan wet, marshy area of Fishhook drainage successful nan northeast to slow nan progression of nan fire,” says nan release. “Incident managers were pleased pinch nan effectiveness of nan backmost burning.”

Crews are continuing to protect structures passim nan Redfish Lake area. The occurrence is presently supra Point Campground, but nary harm to nan campground has been reported.

Stanley residents are raising money for nan historical Redfish Lodge and its labor to guarantee they past nan financial strain of nan closure.

A GoFundMe run was group up Tuesday pinch a $75,000 goal. Click present to donate.

324 unit are presently fighting nan occurrence | U.S. Forest Service

South winds of 15 to 25 mph are expected Wednesday, and temperatures will beryllium successful nan mid-80s. Increased fume crossed nan Stanley Basin was visible Tuesday, starting successful nan precocious morning, and will apt proceed passim nan week.

Officials opportunity those delicate to nan fume should limit their clip outdoors.

The Sawtooth National Forest initiated Stage 1 occurrence restrictions wrong nan National Forest System lands boundaries connected nan Sawtooth and Cassia zones, which became effective astatine 12:01 a.m. Wednesday morning.

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.

Both Idaho Highway 21 and Idaho Highway 75 stay open, but accrued occurrence postulation and imaginable mediocre visibility warrant slowing down.

The Forest Service will clasp a organization gathering Wednesday nighttime astatine 7 p.m. astatine nan Community Building successful Stanley to talk nan conditions of nan wildfire.