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Clearwater Complex fires burn homes, outbuildings

At least 42 homes and 75 outbuildings have been burned by the Clearwater Complex fire.
Lawyer Complex fire

KAMIAH, Idaho -- The Clearwater Complex, made up of several fires including the Lawyer Complex, the Municipal Fire, the Fisher Fire and the Lolo Complex, continues to threaten homes between Kamiah and Orofino after high winds pushed into the area Friday night.

Combined the fires have scorched over 43,000 acres as of Monday morning.

A Public Meeting will be held Monday at 6 p.m. in The Life Center in Kamiah, located at 4432 Hwy 12.

Here is the latest on each of the fires:

LAWYER COMPLEX

So far 42 homes and 75 outbuildings have been destroyed by the the Lawyer Complex, which has now burned about 21,000 acres.

Mandatory evacuations are in effect on the west, north, and east sides of Kamiah outside of the city limits. Residents are urged to stay away from the area.

U.S. Highway 12 is still open, but may periodically have a pilot car moving traffic through the fire area north of Kamiah.

The Idaho County Sheriff's Office is reporting there have been no injuries or deaths as a result of the fire, but say 70-year-old Cheryl Lee Wissler of Adams Grade died Friday evening when she fell and suffered a fatal head wound while preparing to evacuate.

A Red Cross evacuation center has been set up at Clearwater Valley Elementary school (306 Pine Street) in Kooskia.

The fire is 15 percent contained as of Sunday afternoon. Fire managers say structure protection is top priority right now.

LOLO FIRE

The Lolo wildfire, burning near Weippe, has grown to over 3,000 acres and has forced the evacuations of Hidden Valley Road and Lolo Creek Road.

One home has been destroyed by the fire. Crews are focusing on structure protection as they construct fire lines in the southwest, Woodland, and Harrisburg areas.

FISHER FIRE

The Fisher Fire, burning seven miles north of Craigmont in a steep area of Big Canyon, was started by lightning on Wednesday.

Over the weekend, winds pushed the fire south out of Big Canyon up onto the prairie and crossed highway 62. The fire had burned 20,000 acres and destroyed four outbuildings as of Saturday evening.

Officials say cooler temperatures Saturday helped crews with suppression efforts. Managers held a public meeting in Craigmont Saturday evening to update residents and also introduce the population protection plan for the Fisher Fire area.

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