Evacuation Order Reduced for Yellow Pine Residents
Incident: East Zone Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 9/13/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2007
9:00 p.m.
Evacuation Order Reduced for Yellow Pine Residents
Valley County Sheriff Patti Bolen has lowered the Level 3 Mandatory Evacuation Order issued by Idaho Governor Butch Otter in August to a Level 2, effective at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, September 14, 2007. The Level 3 Evacuation Order remains in effect for Johnson Creek.
Starting tomorrow and continuing until fire conditions compromise safety, residents and property owners in the Yellow Pine community only will be allowed back into their homes between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. Please be prepared to provide proof of residency or ownership in Yellow Pine. Those who cannot provide proof will not be allowed into the area.
Yellow Pine residents are reminded that a Level 2 Evacuation Order remains in effect. You must be prepared to leave at a moment's notice should fire conditions change. Should conditions worsen, fire and law enforcement personnel in this area will provide specific information about when to leave and which route(s) to take.
Access will be via Lick Creek Road (Forest Road 48) only. In addition, security personnel will be staffing a security checkpoint at Alpine Village. The road beyond Alpine Village to Big Creek (Forest Road 240) will remain closed to all but fire emergency traffic. A Closure Order remains in effect for National Forest lands in the vicinity. No travel is authorized on any roads other than Lick Creek Road to Yellow Pine. Failure to comply with the Closure Order can result in fines up to $5,000. This closure is in place for public and firefighter safety. Refer to the current Payette National Forest Fire Closure Map at www.fs.fed.us/idahofires.
Smoke, as well as falling snags, rocks and other materials rolling onto roadways, continues to compromise safety and access in the closed area. Fire emergency and support vehicles are using these roads, and firefighters may be working along them. For your safety and that of firefighters, those driving to Yellow Pine need to travel at reduced speeds (less than 30 mph) with headlights on, yielding to emergency traffic.
For additional information, contact the East Zone Complex Incident Command Post at 208-634-1890.
