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Walls of flame threaten Sun Valley
Twelve days after the woods of Idaho were set on fire by a strike of lightning, massive walls of flame continue to rage in the brush and creep toward the posh enclave of Sun Valley, Idaho.
It’s the height of the summer recreation season in the towns in this western valley known for hiking, biking, fishing and skiing; there are high-end resorts and hotels, and homes owned by Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Sun Valley Resort, under pre-evacuation orders, has turned on the water cannons designed for winter snowmaking to keep the grass and trees moist. The Casino, the area’s oldest bar, closed its doors.
Red flag conditions continue today and residents of the multi-million homes and resorts are on alert for evacuation as 100,000 acres blaze out of control around them.
More than 1,100 firefighters are battling the fire, which is still only about 8% contained. Columns of smoke rise 15,000 feet into the air in some places, causing Alaska Airlines to cancel some flights.
The latest post last night said the "fire activity has been increased on the Beaver Creek Fire due to Red Flag conditions, including higher temperatures and wind gusts up to 38 miles an hour."
Residents of Hailey were evacuated Saturday at 3 a.m. as the fire raced toward then, and residents of Ketchum have been warned to be ready to evacuate. More than 2,300 people have been evacuated altogether.
Though it is one of many fires burning in Idaho and California and Alaska in a hot and dry summer fire season, Beaver Creek is the nation’s top-priority wildfire.
Private insurance companies have sent in their own engine crews to help.
By Cheryl Rosen
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