Sunday marked a moderately quiet day on the area’s major fires.
Much of the growth on the 32,000-acre Sheep Fire near Lucile was attributed to controlled burns. Containment remains at about 24 percent and no additional structures are threatened.
Some of the smoke cleared out of the U.S. Highway 12 corridor adjacent to the Powell SBW Complex east and south of Powell. The burned area increased to a little more than 47,000 acres.
The McGuire Complex of fires near Dixie grew to about 32,260 acres, and dangerous conditions have developed for firefighters along the main road into Dixie, also known as Forest Road 222. Burned snags and trees are dropping along the road, and some rocks and debris are coming off the hillsides onto the roadway. Evacuation recommendations remain in place for the Mallard Creek and Cook Ranch areas, as well as the areas of Dixie, Comstock, and Orogrande. Fire officials say the southeast line that is protecting the town of Dixie is holding well.
Smoke continuing to linger around the region has prompted the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to extend its air quality advisory through Tuesday for North Central Idaho. Air quality is rated in the “moderate” to “good” categories for all areas, but is expected to worsen Monday evening. DEQ will re-evaluate air quality conditions on Tuesday.
