Strong winds and dry temperatures doubled the size of the Hurd Fire near Idaho’s Tamarack Resort to nearly 1,300 acres on Thursday, but fire crews were able to keep it from spreading to several homes in the area.
Firefighters caught a break last night when a series of storms that moved through Valley County didn’t turn out to be as bad as predicted. Fire crews had been worried that high winds from those storms would push the blaze into several subdivisions west of Payette Lake.
Fire officials say cooler temperatures and light winds on Friday should allow fire crews to concentrate on spot fires and keeping the blaze away from subdivisions in the area.
75 to 100 people were evacuated Thursday, and the Level 3 evacuation order from the Valley County Sheriff’s Office is still in effect for the area that includes Tamarack Resort.
Additional firefighters and equipment arrived at the blaze Friday to assist the 725 firefighters that are already there. (Idaho Statesman)
