Please see below for links to the most current update on this fire.
I’m posting this blog in an effort to help keep the residents and visitors of Sun Valley up to date with the latest on the forest fire burning west of town. I’ve spoken with many of you yesterday and today and I know many others visit this blog for current information on Sun Valley.
The strong winds and extreme smoky conditions made fighting the fire difficult today. For safety reasons most fire crews pulled back to the Frenchman’s area of Warm Springs Creek earlier today. As of 8 p.m. on August 18th the fire was still growing rapidly. It is well over 3,000 acres and is burning northeasterly, currently heading up Rooks Creek towards Warm Springs ridge and the head of Adams Gulch.
The best media report currently is this from the Idaho Mountain Express (click here). The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise also has a website with good information (click here). Another excellent site is MesoWest (click here). Once there, click on the “Active Fires” tab and look for the Castle Rock fire. You can set layers for fire perimeter, etc.
I watched the fire from 8,200’ at the Silver Lake trailhead late this afternoon and evening and provided some observations to the Fire Chief. It was boiling rapidly and consuming large stands of green trees as evidenced by large columns of black smoke.
Here is a photo I took this evening from the Silver Lake trailhead (you can see Fox Peak in the center of the picture):
Click here for the 8/19/07 8 a.m. Update
Click here for the 8/19/07 1 p.m. Update
Click here for the 8/19/07 11 p.m. Update
Click here for the 8/20/07 Noon Update
Click here for the 8/20/07 9:30 p.m. Update
Click here for the 8/21/07 10:00 p.m. Update
Click here for the 8/22/07 9:30 p.m. Update
Click here for the 8/23/07 10:00 p.m. Update
Click here for the 8/24/07 4:30 p.m. Update
Click here for the 8/24/07 10:00 p.m. Update
Click here for the 8/25/07 8:00 p.m. Update
Click here for the 8/26/07 12:30 a.m. Update
Click here for the 8/26/07 Noon Update
Click here for the 8/27/07 Noon Update
Click here for the 8/27/07 10:30 p.m. Update
Click here for the 8/28/07 10:00 p.m. Update
Click here for the 8/29/07 8:00 p.m. Update
Click here for the 8/30/07 Noon Update
Click here for the 8/30/07 10:30 p.m. Update
Click here for the 9/1/07 10:00 a.m. Update
Click here to see links to my Castle Rock Fire Slideshow
Thank you Nils for your efforts to inform the community about this scary situation. I have been “googleing” this fire since noon today and your suggestions for information sources were the best I found as well. Bravo to you for your initiative.
Nils,
Thank you sooo much for this information. I’m alone for a few days and of course, am worrying more than if Ed were here. SusanC
Thanks for sending this, Nils. We really appreciate it. Keep up the good work. Bev and Reg
Thanks for all you are doing to keep us informed.
Tom and peggy
Great that you reach out to your community so well! I am grateful as I have family visiting there and am closely watching the evacuation information. Another good site for fire (current) info is “blainecounty.org” they are doing a great job at updates in real-time. Thx again Pam
with many friends in the area, a source of infomation like your is very much appreciated…best I could find. thank you very much
john bange
I have found your website very helpful trying to find updated information about the fire, progress and containment. My brother and his wife live North of Highway 75 off of Eagle Creek and he has a business in Ketchum. Naturally, I am concerned. It is sad that the TV news talks about the fires in Greece but not the fires in Idaho (US).