FEATHERVILLE, Idaho (AP) — Across the West, dozens of fires fueled by searing heat, dry weather and strong winds have added up to misery for weary residents who already are fed up with one of the region's worst fire seasons in decades.
Today, hundreds of residents of two small Idaho towns were packing their belongings and clearing out of the way of a massive wildfire burning in a gulch a few miles away and expected to hit town later this week.
Idaho's Trinity Ridge Fire has burned more than 100 square miles in the past two weeks. It's bearing down on Pine and Featherville, recreation getaways in the mountains 105 miles northeast of Boise.
Wildfires also tormented homeowners in Washington, Oregon and California, as arid conditions kept fire crews busier than usual across the region.
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224-a-10-(Alissa Tanner, public information officer, U.S. Forest Service, in AP interview)-"build more line"-U.S. Forest service information officer Alissa Tanner says with steep terrain and smoke too heavy for much air support, the Plumas forest fire has been a moving target. (15 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *224 (08/15/12)>> 00:10 "build more line"
225-a-09-(Alissa Tanner, public information officer, U.S. Forest Service, in AP interview)-"20 percent containment"-U.S. Forest service information officer Alissa Tanner says over 1500 firefighters are trying to quell the Chips Fire in Northern California's Plumas National Forest. (15 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *225 (08/15/12)>> 00:09 "20 percent containment"
226-a-10-(Alissa Tanner, public information officer, U.S. Forest Service, in AP interview)-"to falling debris"-U.S. Forest service information officer Alissa Tanner says 9 firefighters have sustained injuries while working the Chips Fire. (15 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *226 (08/15/12)>> 00:10 "to falling debris"
APPHOTO WAET123: As smoke rises behind, firefighter Jose Barajas hefts his pack as he gets his equipment ready Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, near Cle Elum, Wash. Crews fighting the large blaze in central Washington hope to increase containment levels by Wednesday evening, but are keeping a wary eye on weather conditions later in the week. The fire burning near Cle Elum has burned dozens of homes and caused about 900 people to evacuate. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) (15 Aug 2012)
<<APPHOTO WAET123 (08/15/12)>>
