BOISE -- The Idaho Emergency Operations Center on Saturday assigned an Idaho National Guard helicopter to fires in southwest Idaho to be available for medical evacuations if needed.
Officials say the UH-72 Lakota helicopter and seven soldiers are scheduled to be stationed in the small community of Pine as early as Monday.
The 130-square-mile Trinity Ridge Fire is being battled by 1,082 firefighters but continues to approach the community of Featherville, where crews are working to protect 366 residences.
Trinity Ridge Fire managers and the Great Basin Multi-Agency Coordinating Group requested the helicopter. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's disaster declaration on Wednesday cleared the way for the Idaho National Guard to get involved in firefighting activities.
