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This tree was one of many that was uprooted during Thursday's night windstorm in the Stanley-Redfish Lake area.

STANLEY -- A sudden windstorm Thursday evening in the Stanley area downed numerous trees and caused a lot of damage.

Forest Service officials say winds estimated at over 50 miles per hour brought trees down in campgrounds and along access roads at Stanley, Pettit, and Redfish lakes.  Some damage and minor injuries from falling trees was reported. 

“We can plan for natural events but when a storm like this hits there is little that can be done.  Most of the blow downs in this storm were live green trees,” said Sara Baldwin, a ranger with the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

There is no preliminary estimate of how many trees fell on roads and campgrounds, but there were many.  Crews are working to reopen roads and campsites. 

“We are working as fast as we can to get things back to normal, but it will take a little time; there are a lot of trees down,” said Baldwin.

A camper called Newschannel 7 overnight and told us the winds knocked down a lot of trees where he was camping.

He told us his brother, and two others were hurt during the microburst.

Custer County dispatchers say the storm came quickly and ended quickly.

Sawtooth NRA officials are advising people who plan to camp at Redfish Lake to call the Stanley Ranger Station at 208-774-3000 to check on the status of campgrounds before they come. 

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Campers were left to clean up after sudden and violent windstorm caught them by surprise Thursday.