NEWS RELEASE

Salmon Interagency Dispatch Upper Columbia - Salmon Clearwater District BLM Salmon - Challis National Forest Rural Route 2, Box 600 Salmon, Idaho 83467

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:Salmon Fire Information Center (208) 756-5283

Twin Fire and Reynolds Fire Update – August 2, 6 a.m.

The Twin fire, located 5 miles southeast of Lost Trail Pass, is 95 percent contained and is 458 acres.522 people are involved in the firefighting efforts.The fire activity was minimal on the Twin fire but several of the new starts from yesterday evening exhibited extremely active fire behavior.

The command center for the Twin fire spent most of the day assisting with activities surrounding the new lightning caused starts in the area.The fires, several of which are on the Sula and Darby Ranger Districts of the Bitterroot National Forest, have escaped initial attack and are burning actively with little headway toward containment. These have been assigned to the Alaska team working with the Twin Fire. Steep rocky terrain in the area and predicted hot, dry weather will further hamper the ability of the fire fighters to control these new fires. The shortage of people and equipment to support the fire-fighting activity continues to also cause concern.

Highway 93 North of Salmon was closed at the North Fork Store when one of these fires threatened to cross the road near Sula General Store Tuesday evening.Motorists were being allowed to go through the roadblock to access Montana highway 28 to Wisdom at the top of Lost Trail Pass.

Future activity on the Twin fire will focus on mop up efforts and holding and patrolling the fire line in all divisions. The team will also develop strategy and tactics to deal with the other fires in the area.

The Reynolds Fire is estimated to be 36 acres in size and 100 percent contained.It is located 3.5 miles northwest of the Gattlin Ranch, 27 miles northwest of North Fork, Idaho.Fire behavior yesterday was minimal allowing crews to continue mop-up, with very little fire activity.

Further updates will be distributed as information becomes available.Fire maps are available at the Salmon-Challis National Forest office on Highway 93 south of Salmon.For additional fire information please call:208-756-5283 or log on to the Salmon-Challis National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/fire2000.