On Monday, 101 Idaho National Guard soldiers and airmen departed Gowen Field to help support Trinity Ridge firefighting efforts. The men and women will provide checkpoint security and helicopter support to the incident commander. Additionally, one Idaho Army National Guard UH-72 Lakota helicopter will be based near Pine in order to rapidly provide evacuation for any medical emergency that might arise.

Fire officials reported no major developments Monday on the Trinity Ridge Fire burning in the Middle Fork Boise River area. The fire has burned 94,718 acres with 5 percent containment.

The lack of major growth Monday allowed fire crews were able to complete a handline along the ridge between Alexander Flats and Barber Flat down to the Middle and North Fork of the Boise River. Firefighters also did a burnout that merged into the old Rabbit Creek Fire. Fire officials say those two moves were critical for the plan to check the blaze's growth to the west.

Tuesday’s forecast calls for the wind direction to shift from the northwest to the southeast. If this happens, fire crews may utilize burnouts to push the fire away from developed areas.

The Featherville and Paradise areas are still under an evacuation order because of dense smoke.

The Pine/Featherville Road is closed to all but fire and emergency traffic. An evacuation center for Featherville residents is set up by the Red Cross at the Pine Senior Center and the Pines Resort.

A community meeting will be held 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Idaho City Community Hall at 6 p.m.

Featherville sits along the South Fork of the Boise River on the edge of the Boise National Forest. It swells from about 100 year-round residents to as many as 1,000 visitors on summer weekends.

Closures: The town of Featherville. The Dutch Creek, Swanholm, Weatherby and Queen River campgrounds have all been evacuated. The road closure is in effect at the following locations: Road 227 at the county line east of Baumgartner Campground (Campground is closed); the intersection of Highway 20 and FH 61 (Pine-Featherville Road); and the intersection of Lester Creek and Lake Creek roads.

HALSTEAD FIRE

Location: Northwest of Stanley in the Cape Horn area

Size: Size: 93,720 acres, 5 percent contained.

Current situation: The Custer County sheriff ordered evacuations Friday from Sunbeam Store to Loon Creek Summit, including Custer Town and Jordan Creek.

The Red Cross has set up a shelter for evacuees at 3098 Cedar St. in Bellevue. People who need help should call (800) 853-2570 and select option No. 1.

Closures: Idaho 21 and Idaho 75 are open. The Boundary Fork Road to the Middle Fork also is open. All forest roads and trails in the Cape Horn, Seafoam and east of the Middle Fork Salmon areas are closed including the following campgrounds: Beaver Creek, Lola Creek, Marsh Creek Transfer, O'Brien, Josephus Lake, and campgrounds along the Salmon River from Lower Stanley to Indian Riffles.

MUSTANG COMPLEX FIRE

Size: 89,859 acres, 7 percent contained

Current situation: The fire continues to back into the Salmon River drainage and move east toward Spring Creek and north toward Montana.

Fire managers have urged residents on Indian Creek Road and Spring Creek Road to be prepared to leave quickly.

Community meeting 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22, at the North Fork Fire Station.

Limited access: Salmon River Road remains open to residents, river users launching from Cove Creek and Corn Creek, and Middle Fork river rafters taking out at Stoddard, Cache Bar and Corn Creek. The general public is urged to stay off the road so firefighters can work to protect structures and prevent the fire from spreading to the south side of the river.

Closures: The Spring Creek Road (#038) is closed from the Salmon River Road (#030) to State Line Road (#044). State Line Road (#044) is closed to Horse Creek Road (#065). Horse Creek Road (#065) is closed from Spring Creek Road (#038) to the Gattin Ranch. Horse Creek Campground is closed.

Due to smoke from the Halstead, Mustang and Trinity Ridge fires, the Idaho DEQ has issued an orange air quality alert for Custer and Blaine counties including the cities of Challis, Stanley and Sun Valley.

This air quality advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve.

Under an orange alert, people who are sensitive to particulates or smoke should avoid prolonged outdoor activity; all others should limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity.

SPRINGS FIRE

Location: Between Banks and Garden Valley.

Size: 6,150 acres. The fire was declared 100 percent contained Sunday.

Highways open: Idaho 55 and the Banks to Lowman Road are open.

STATE DISASTER

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter declared a state disaster on Aug. 15 to support firefighting efforts across Idaho.

The declaration provides the means necessary for the Idaho Department of Lands to utilize its agreement with the Idaho National Guard to provide support to fire incident management teams.

The Idaho Emergency Operations Center, housed at the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security, is activated and will be issuing mission assignments to the Guard for their support.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help Elmore County help pay for fire protection for buildings in Featherville and Pine as crews continue to battle the Trinity Ridge Fire.

The FEMA funds which will pay up to 75 percent of the costs for 11 fire engines and crew members from nearby fire departments who are helping Elmore County and Boise National Forest fire crews battling the blaze, said Robert Feeley, a spokesman for the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security.

AIR QUALITY

The Treasure Valley's forecast for Wednesday is yellow, according to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Under a yellow, or moderate, alert, people who are unusually sensitive may have respiratory symptoms.

All individuals may want to consider postponing strenuous outdoor activities until air quality improves.

The Idaho DEQ has issued an orange air quality alert for Custer and Blaine counties including the cities of Challis, Stanley and Sun Valley due to smoke from the Halstead, Mustang and Trinity Ridge fires.

This air quality advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve.

Under an orange alert, people who are sensitive to particulates or smoke should avoid prolonged outdoor activity; all others should limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity.

STAGE 1 RESTRICTIONS

Continued hot, dry conditions throughout southwest and central Idaho have prompted Stage 1 fire restrictions on an expanded slate of private and government land throughout much of southwest and central Idaho Areas under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions now include:

• All private, state and BLM protected lands outside incorporated city limits within Ada, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Washington counties, and portions of Idaho, Adams, Valley, Custer, Elmore, Camas and Blaine counties;

• All Boise National Forest lands within Boise, Elmore, Gem and Ada counties, and a portion of Valley County;

• All Payette National Forest lands within Adams, Washington and Idaho counties, and a portion of Valley County; and

• All Sawtooth National Forest lands within Elmore and Camas counties, and portions of Blaine and Custer counties

Stage 1 fire restrictions prohibit the following acts:

• Using a fire, campfire or stove fire, except within a designated recreation site, or on the user's own land within an owner-provided structure.

• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.