Fire crews successfully handle Trinity Ridge Fire, as it reaches Featherville

CREATED Aug. 25, 2012

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  • Jennifer Auh has the latest on the Trinity Ridge Fire. Video by IdahoOnYourSide.com

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As the Trinity Ridge Fire reached Featherville, things went right according to plan for firefighters.

For the past few days, crews have been trying to fight ‘fire with fire’ with their burn out operations. They hoped it would create a barrier between the homes and the fire. It worked and saved the homes from the flames.

"We’ve been waiting for it to happen, we wanted it to happen to get done and get on with our lives," said Cyndie Christensen, Featherville Café Owner.

Now, the immediate threat to the community is over, and some homeowners said they feel a heavy weight has been lifted off their shoulders.

"We're just going back to the cabin, finish up a couple things and tell some neighbors full time residents that we are leaving," said Butch Quigley, Pine homeowner.

However, a new fire management team, who is taking over the southern portion of the fire, said residents and homes could still be in danger, especially if the winds shift directions.

"If the fire gets up and gets active again, there are other areas that can come and threaten from the other side. That's what we're here to do, protect that," said Kole Berriochoa, Firefighter.

The evacuations in Featherville and Paradise are still in place, because of that threat.

"The team before us has done a good job of taking care of the defensive mode,” said Berriochoa, “put us in a good position that we can now go a little more on the offensive and take a little more action and go direct on the fire."

Fire experts said they expect the fire to keep growing because of the wind and dry weather.  So far, the fire has grown to almost 120,000 acres and is still just 5 percent contained.

We recently have been notified that three firefighters of the Bonneville hotshots were injured on Saturday, when a large log rolled down a steep hill into the crew.

They were all sent to the hospital in Boise, one suffered a minor head injury and another hurt his back, neck and shoulders.