Someone illegally using a drone shut down firefighting aircraft operations over the Rattlesnake Creek Fire south of Riggins on Monday – the third drone intrusion into the area under a Temporary Flight Restriction.
The late afternoon incident caused the helicopters that were delivering food for the firefighters on White Bird Ridge to return to the helibase.
Drones create a serious safety hazard for aircraft, and air operations did not resume until the threat was resolved.
Meanwhile, the fire itself has blackened more than 8,100 acres and is 28 percent contained. Some light rainfall raised limited fire behavior to backing, creeping and smoldering. When the storm front passed, firefighters resumed work on the fireline on White Bird Ridge north of Pollock Mountain, and crews will remain on that remote section of line for several shifts.
Tuesday, a packer and mulestring are supplying the spike camps on White Bird Ridge, freeing up helicopters for direct suppression missions. Personnel are working to secure the west flank of the fire to prevent it from becoming established in the Rapid River drainage. Firefighters are also attacking hot spots on the far south end of the fire.
Residents in Hillman Basin and Boulder are under mandatory evacuations, while pre-evacuation status continues for those in the North Pollock, Elk Lake, and Pinehurst areas, and along a 10-mile stretch of Highway 95. (USFS)
