KAMIAH, Idaho — A large wildfire that has forced some people to flee from their homes in north-central Idaho has grown to around 11,091 acres - about four times the size it was two days earlier.
Fire managers say the Dixie Fire continues to burn actively and spread in all directions, especially to the south. It nearly tripled in size since Tuesday. The fire is located 40 miles southeast of Grangeville and 15 miles south of Elk City near the community of Dixie.
Aviation and ground resources are focusing their efforts on structure protection and improving the roads and fuel breaks near the communities of Dixie, Comstock, Mallard Creek, and several private inholdings on the Main Salmon River.
As of Friday morning, the fire was still at 0% containment, although officials say fire crews are still holding the western line at Forest Service Road 222.
"The fire has the potential to move in any direction due to the variable winds and the continuous dry fuels," officials posted Friday.
Another round of thunderstorms swept over the region Wednesday, igniting numerous new wildfires and adding to an already complex combination of severe fire conditions and strained firefighting resources, a public affairs officer for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests said Thursday.
Fire managers across federal, state, Tribal, and private land are working closely together to prioritize these new fires and share resources based on immediate threats to life and property.
The Idaho County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday issued evacuation orders for the Dixie and Comstock area. For evacuation information and updates, please check the sheriff's Facebook page.
Doug Sturman's Type 1 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 2 assumed command of the Dixie Fire on Thursday morning. Multiple aircraft, crews, engines, and heavy equipment are currently assigned to the fire.
An area closure order is now in effect.
Temporary flight restrictions are in place over the fire area for the safety of the public as well as of aerial firefighting resources. Also, the use of drones is prohibited in wildfire areas.
The Dixie Fire was detected Monday afternoon. The cause of the fire is unconfirmed, but fire managers believe it was started by lightning.
Be sure to report all wildfires to the Grangeville Interagency Dispatch Center (208-983-6800) or call 911.
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