Stanley, Idaho (KMVT-TV) Firefighters are gaining the upper hand battling the lightning sparked Halstead fire burning near Stanley . Official numbers from the fire indicate 62% of it is contained with 85 personnel on scene. Yesterday, fire continued backing down the ridge that separates Bear Valley Creek from Marsh Creek causing a closure of the Bear Valley Creek Trail as it travels downstream to marsh Creek at the confluence of the Middle Fork Salmon River. Fire suppression repair work in Rankin Creek, in the Yankee Fork drainage, continued with the use of a handcrew. Most of the length of the Pinyon Peak road was checked by another handcrew who cleared fire debris from culverts and worked on making the roadway safe for travel. Marsh and Bear Valley Creeks’ fire activity was checked throughout the day to assess fire movement towards the confluence location. The remainder of the fire area was in monitor status due to moderated fire activity as a result of measureable precipitation which occurred during the afternoon and evening.

Today, several engines and the remaining handcrew will continue fire suppression repair work in the Rankin Creek location. Loon Creek Summit/Jordan Creek fire activity is being monitored by three engine crews. Seafoam area will have an engine monitoring any activity along the road and in locations where the fire was recently active. Management Action Points will be developed for the Bear Valley Creek/Marsh Creek confluence area, which will be closely monitored.

As far as the weather, Monday will have periods of continuous light to moderate rain throughout the Sawtooth Valley, moderating fire behavior. Temperatures will be in the 50’s during the day. A slight warming trend will begin on Wednesday on through next weekend.

Closures: Bear Valley Creek Trail 012 is closed on the north side of the Fir Creek Campground bridge, closing access to the Bear Valley Creek hot springs and the location known as Big Hole. Access to Blue Bunch Mtn. via trail is still open. The Loon Creek Rd., Forest Rd. 172, remains closed from 9 am to 9 pm from the Hecla Mine thru to the Loon Creek Guard Station to allow for safe firefighting operations. The Nip & Tuck Rd. (Forest Rd. 033) is open for non-motorized traffic only. All spur roads leading to the north of the main road are still closed.
Along the Highway 75 Salmon River Corridor from Stanley to the Sawtooth NRA boundary, the following campgrounds are open and will be managed by the Sawtooth National Recreation Area through the end of hunting season: Casino, Mormon Bend, Upper O’Brien, Holman, and Whiskey Flat.