Little Queen moves toward Atlanta

Structure protection is in place in the event the fire comes over the mountain.

The Little Queen Fire, which has burned in several different directions and now consumed over 10,000 acres, is threatening to cross the Little Queen River about three miles northwest of Atlanta.

A mandatory evacuation of Atlanta remains in effect until further notice, but many residents have elected to stay, at least until the threat becomes more direct.

The fire has reached China Basin. A structure protection group, which includes nine engines are working to place pumps and hoses around Atlanta. Five Type 2 crews and three Hotshot crews are assigned.

A Type 2 Incident Management team is assisting with the management of the fire, with the command post at Weatherby.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation although initially it was called human caused.

While some closure orders were lifted due to the Pony and Elk complex fires, new ones were implemented on portions of the Sawtooth and Boise National Forests due to the rapid movement of the Little Queens Fire.

The closed area within the Boise National Forest is generally bounded by the Middle Fork Boise River Road (Forest Road 268) and Swanholm Road junction (Forest Road 327), then north on the Swanholm Road to Trail 057, then east to Forest Road 312 until it meets the Sawtooth Wilderness Boundary, and then south along the Wilderness boundary to the Boise/Sawtooth National Forest boundary and then west along the Mountain Home and Idaho City Ranger Districts boundary to Phifer Creek Road and then north until the junction of the Middle Fork Boise River Road.

Elmore County has closed the James Creek Road and Phifer Creek Road from Rocky Bar north.