Idaho Wildfires: Hundreds of Homes Evacuated

Wildfires sparked by lighting last week in south-central Idaho have now forced hundreds from their homes.
Idaho Wildfires: Hundreds of Homes Evacuated
The Elk fire burns at night near Pine, Id., Sunday Aug. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/The Idaho Statesman, Kyle Green)
Tara MacIsaac
8/12/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

Wildfires sparked by lighting last week in south-central Idaho have now forced hundreds from their homes. 

PINE, Idaho—Two destructive wildfires have burned over 310 square miles of land in south-centralIdaho and led to hundreds of homes being evacuated near the town of Pine, as well as the communities of Prairie and Mayfield.

Both lightning-caused fires started Thursday and have led to the closure of just over 1,200-square-miles of Boise National Forest lands.

The 125-square-mile Elk Complex and the 187-square-mile Pony Complex are burning fewer than 50 miles from each other in the midsection of the state.

Fire spokeswoman Mallory Eils tells The Times-News some livestock are missing and about 20 buildings had been damaged in the Elk Complex blaze. An unknown number of residences were destroyed. Two cabins and an outbuilding were confirmed destroyed by the Pony Complex Sunday morning.