Firefighters working to gain control of Halstead Fire
The Halstead Fire has entered its second month and is now at almost 136,000 acres. It is approximately three miles north of Stanley and only 7 percent contained.
According to the Salmon-Challis National Forest, firefighters are working on areas near Marsh Creek, Pinyon Lookout and the Lost Packer Mine.
Click here for photos of the Halstead Fire
Firefighters ran sprinklers around the mine throughout the day yesterday. The Sunbeam area was cooling down and firefighters used helicopters to knock the fire down as it came up over the ridge tops near Highway 75. Firefighters also worked on burnout operations behind homes along Cow Camp Roadand near the Valley Creek Mine. The burnout operations take away fuels before the main fire gets to those areas, making for a less intense fire.
Ultimately, firefighters are working towards taking the burnout lines and tying them in to the dozer lines to help hold the fire away from the highways and private lands.
Vehicles on the portion of Highway 75 between Stanley and Challis will be escorted by a pilot car. The Salmon-Challis National Forest, smoke, fire equipment and potential falling debris from the Halstead Fire has necessitated this action to protect motorists’ safety. Escorted traffic will continue until fire conditions change.
Photo courtesy Tara Ross with the Summit Fire Dept.
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