New Idaho Wildfire Grows Despite Retardant Drops

Fire officials on Sunday say they could be facing a long battle against a wildfire burning in heavy timber 50 miles east of Boise after more than 100,000 gallons of fire retardant dropped Saturday failed to keep the blaze in check.

Fire spokesman Dave Olson says the 1-square-mile Trinity Ridge Fire expanded Saturday despite 46 runs by four military C-130 cargo planes based at the Boise Air Terminal and more drops by three single-engine air tankers.

Olson says the fire that started Friday is burning sub-alpine fir and lodgepole pine that are prone to torching and throwing embers, starting new fires.

He says the fire is likely human caused because firefighters found a burned utility terrain vehicle at the fire’s source. Investigators are trying to determine who owns the vehicle.