Photo Gallery: Firefighters guarding Idaho town as wildfire nears
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Firefighters have started a burnout operation near the central Idaho town of Featherville to deny an approaching wildfire the fuel it would need to reach hundreds of homes that were evacuated last weekend.
Fire managers say favorable weather conditions allowed them start lighting ignitions late Wednesday to burn and remove vegetation that could have served as fuel for the massive Trinity Ridge Fire, which has charred 164 square miles.
As of early Thursday, the operation to create a buffer around the town of Featherville had so far been successful and was expected to continue. The area was evacuated Saturday due to heavy smoke from the Trinity Ridge Fire.
The cost of fighting the wildfire is now estimated at $15.6 million.
Photos courtesy Kari Greer/US Forest Service
Click "More Photos" on the left for the full gallery
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