Highway 200 fires prompt new evacuation

Authorities have evacuated a stretch of Swamp Creek Road near Plains in advance of the Sheep Gap Fire.

The Sanders County Sheriff’s Office issued the order on Tuesday night, which applies to a stretch of Swamp Creek Road between the four-corners intersection and the Forest Service boundary. and announced that the area had been evacuated at 10 p.m. It has also issued pre-evacuation warnings to residents along Black Jack and Mountain Roads.

The Sheep Gap Fire currently covers 13,414 acres and is 40 percent contained. Firefighters are focusing on protecting structures along its eastern flank and identifying and suppressing any spot fires that broke out last night.

Five fires, with different levels of containment, are burning on a total of 24,225 acres around the Highway 200 complex near Thompson Falls and Plains. 308 personnel are currently assigned to the area.