Crews are conducting burnout operations on Friday to help fight a pair of lightning-caused wildfires in the Craig Mountain Fire Protection District south of Lewiston.
The Craig Mountain Complex includes the Powerline Fire, which has now torched 26,600 acres of heavy grass and brush between Wapshilla Creek and Deer Creek, south and southwest of Winchester.
The blaze saw continued growth to the south and west on Thursday and overnight as the fire backed down ridges in the Snake River drainage. The fire will continue to spread west, down slope to the Snake River and towards Cottonwood Creek, and south towards the confluence of the Snake and Salmon Rivers.
The Powerline fire was also expected to reach the Corral Creek fire by Friday.
The Corral Creek Fire is about 50 percent contained at 1,800 acres between Corral Creek and China Garden Creek drainages, with the Snake River on the southern perimeter.
Both fires threaten a dozen structures, but none have been lost and there are no evacuations at this time.
Some 580 personnel are assigned to the complex, along with 13 engines, 6 dozers, and a number of helicopters.
Eagle Creek Road remains closed from the intersection of Zaza Road to the Salmon River due to fire suppression activities, and public access is also shut off at the intersection of Hoover Point and Soldier Meadows roads, as well as at the intersection of Deer Creek and Zaza roads. (USFS, Idaho Department of Lands)
