Containment on Pioneer Fire dips down, acreage increases

Containment on the Pioneer Fire, burning near Idaho City and Lowman, slipped down a bit to 55 percent by Monday as the fire continued to grow, according to fire managers via Inciweb.

The fire is estimated to be burning 111,604 acres by Monday morning. Nearly 1,400 people are fighting the fire, using nine helicopters, 54 engines, four bulldozers, 27 water tenders, four masticators and two skidders, according to fire managers.

Evacuation orders are still in effect for several communities in the area, but no mandatory evacuations are in place yet. Homes along the Long Creek area and Bear Valley Road are under a Level 2 evacuation order, which is a voluntary evacuation. Residents in Lowman, Pioneerville, near South Fork Road, east of Grimes Creek and along the South Fork Payette River. A Level 1 evacuation is just a preparation measure to get residents ready for voluntary or mandatory evacuations, according to fire managers.

Highway 17 and 21 are still open to travelers, but fire managers urge motorists to use caution on those roads.

Private, commercial and drone aircrafts are prohibited from flying over the fire area, according to fire managers.

Low humidity and high temperatures could make firefighting challenging for crews Monday, fire managers reported.

This story was originally published August 29, 2016 at 10:28 AM with the headline "Containment on Pioneer Fire dips down, acreage increases."