Burnouts Stop Wildfire from Reaching Central Idaho Town

LOWMAN, Idaho (AP) — Fire officials say burnouts have successfully stopped a 127-square-mile wildfire from reaching the small central Idaho town of Lowman and crews on Thursday are mopping up in the area.

Officials say the most active part of the fire is now on the west flank where the fire is burning in dense timber. Officials say firefighters are using existing roads, an old burn scar and areas where thinning has occurred to create a fire line. The Banks-Lowman Road remains closed with rocks and trees made unstable when the fire passed through falling onto the pavement and creating a hazard.

The Scott Mountain Lookout has been wrapped with a reflective thermal barrier in case the fire burns west toward that area. About 1,600 firefighters are battling the blaze that started July 18.