McCall Idaho Headline News

Fire managers were bracing themselves for predicted high winds, hot temperatures and maybe lightning storms to aggravate their fight against large wildfires on the Payette and Boise national forests.

The Cascade Complex east of Cascade had sprawled to 236,282 acres by Wednesday. The two main fires in the complex, the Monumental Fire surrounding Warm Lake and the Riordan Fire to the north, were being watched for any movement toward Yellow Pine.

August 28, 2007 fire map of Central Idaho Click here for a larger view

At the same time, the 144,000acre Zena Loon fire, part of the East Zone Complex northeast of McCall, had the potential to march south toward Yellow Pine.

As of Wednesday, however, the managers of the two fire complexes were pleased with the progress made during several days of cooler temperatures and higher humidity.

"Our team is feeling real comfortable about the Landmark, Johnson Creek, Warm Lake and Paradise areas," said Rowdy Muir, incident commander for the Cascade Complex.
More than 750 firefighters were based at the complex command post on Warm Lake Road just east of Cascade.

They were backed up by 26 fire engines, seven water tenders and one bulldozer plus 14 helicopters of various sizes.

The complex, which begin with a lightning strike on July 17, had cost $37.8 million as of Wednesday.

Muir met with about 50 people on Tuesday in Yellow Pine, of which he estimated 24 people were residents. He assured them that only a radical change in weather would threaten the town.

"For the fire to get into Yellow Pine or Johnson Creek it would have to be in a downhill movement," which can be attacked with relative ease, he said.

However, if the fire does enter Yellow Pine, residents are on their own to protect their homes and businesses, Muir said.

On Wednesday, crews continued to remove snags along secondary roads and secure a large portion of the southern boundary of the Cascade Complex, according to Wednesday's daily status report.

A burn-out to secure the area around the Landmark Guard station was scheduled for Wednesday, and work on road clearing was continuing.

East Zone Complex
The East Zone Complex, which has been threatening the communities of Warren and Secesh for weeks, became active again this week. However, the most intense flames were away from the communities of mostly vacation homes, Incident Commander Joe Ferguson said.

"Things have been going well, but starting Thursday, we'll have a chance for dry lightning and quite a bit of wind." Ferguson said, based on forecasts he has received.

The East Zone Complex is composed of the Zena Loon Fire and the 67,793 acre Raines Fire burning south of the Salmon River. A total of 215,307 acres had burned within the complex by Wednesday.

Battling the fire, which began with a lightning strike July 6, were more than 450 firefighters based at a command post on East Lake Fork Road.

Cost of battling the East Zone Complex was estimated by Ferguson to be about $23 million by Wednesday.

Areas of concern continued to be at the north end of Secesh Meadows, where the fire has not yet passed through, and the Burgdorf area, which is within four miles of the fire line, Ferguson said.

Smoke and fire were visible from Warren on the ridges around town Tuesday, and crews continued to watch for spot fires, according to Wednesday's fire status reports.

Secesh saw another active fire day on Tuesday with the fire front continuing to flank on the ridge south of Warren Wagon Road at the north end of the valley, the reports said.

Logging equipment was to be used around Burgdorf Wednesday to continue creating a "shady" fuel break. The goal of the break is to reduce the fuel load in a 25 foot wide area on a ridge between Secesh and Burgdorf.

Sprinklers and hoses are in place around homes and other buildings in area that could be quickly activated if the flames flare up, Ferguson said.

Both Ferguson and Muir said they have been able to stay fully staffed despite the scramble to put out the Castle Rock Fire burning near Sun Valley

In fact, Ferguson said he has fewer people in his camp today than two week: ago because of the reduced threat.