ATHOL, Idaho — Firefighters continued work overnight on a 2,700-acre wildfire burning northeast of Athol, Idaho.
According to the Idaho Department of Lands, crews patrolled the fire perimeter, extinguished hotspots and protected structures throughout the fire. The effort was focused on the Talache Road and Butler Creek areas.
IDL says cooler and wetter weather on Saturday will allow firefighters a chance to make progress on firelines.
The fire is currently burning in heavy timber and steep terrain, making it hard for ground forces in the current weather conditions.
Evacuation orders are still in effect.
Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuations are in place for all residents on Raven Road, Crosswhite Road, Little Blacktail Road and parts of Sunset Road. USFS 630 off Blacktail Road (north of Blacktail), Butler Creek and Butler Creek Spur, from Mirror Lake, diagonal down to USFS 630, including Five Lakes Estates, Jupline Landing, the entire Ponderosa neighborhood and everything on Talache Rd. and all side streets feeding to Talache Rd.
Level 2 (BE SET) evacuations are in effect for homes on Blacktail Road that are a quarter-mile north of Little Blacktail and everything north of Talache Road in Sagle.
Level 1 (GET READY) advisories remain in place for anyone living on Blacktail Road north of the quarter-mile and for the community of Bayview.
An evacuation center has been opened at the Cocolalla Bible Camp. The Bonner County Fairgrounds is available to shelter evacuated livestock on a limited basis.
To receive the latest evacuation updates, please sign up for Bonner County Nixel alerts via text. Text 888777 and enter your zip code.
The cause of the Sunset Fire remains under investigation.
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