Wildfires

Wildfires - Oregon, USA

Evacuation orders are in place for parts of Prairie City, a town of approximately 900 people near John Day in Eastern Oregon. Fire officials said the strong winds Saturday morning pushed the Canyon Creek Complex both north and east, and they’re worried that windy conditions will test efforts throughout the day.

Wildfires - Idaho, USA

The Tepee Springs Fire is burning about 48,000 acres as of Saturday, with some flames jumping north across the Salmon River, according to fire officials. Residents near Riggins have been told to evacuate amid two days of aggressive growth, and the fire also prompted the emergency closure Thursday of nearly 18 miles of the Lower Salmon River to all recreational use.

In North Idaho, a group of blazes, now dubbed the Clearwater -Municipal-Motorway North Complex that earlier destroyed 42 homes near Kamiah is now 75 percent contained and at about 130 square miles.

The Rapid Fire has burned 6,422 acres in subalpine and mixed conifer forest about 12 miles southeast of McCall as of Saturday. It is 40 percent contained. The fire grew about 1,000 acres due to winds and heavy fuel Thursday. With air support crews worked to strengthen containment lines around the southern part of the fire Friday and Saturday.

The 1,237-acre Cougar Fire, about 20 miles northeast of Cascade in Valley County,was about 90 percent contained as of Saturday. Fire crews continue to be released over time, though fire managers remain watchful for strong winds, reaching gusts of 30 mph Saturday that could scatter embers outside the containment lines.

The Campbells Fire was reported at 6,720 acres Friday in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness southeast of Dixie. It is burning through timber in Fall, Ruf, Moore and Trout creeks, and now includes Burnt Knob. Crews are doing structure protection at Campbells Ferry.

Wildfires - Montana, USA

About 20 residences in rural areas south of Libby were told to evacuate Saturday morning because of one of several fires burning in the Kootenai National Forest, fire spokeswoman Jennifer McCully said.

Elsewhere, the towns of Essex in Flathead County and Heart Butte on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation remain under evacuation orders.