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UPDATED: Authorities issue evacuation order for Eastside Road homes

by WILL LANGHORNE
The Western News | July 27, 2021 7:00 AM

Tuesday, 6:37 p.m.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office is once again evacuating residents on Kilbrennan Lake Road after the South Yaak Fire made a run back toward the street.

"Residents are being asked to immediately leave the area," reads a post made to the sheriff's office social media page.

An earlier article follows below:

Authorities with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office have issued an evacuation order for residents north of the three mile marker on Eastside Road as the South Yaak Fire continues to threaten homes.

Residents within the evacuation zone will be contacted by sheriff’s office deputies. Officials have issued a Code Red notification through the county’s emergency management system, according to a July 27 social media post by the sheriff’s office.

Eastside Road above Kilbrennan Lake Road is closed to the public. The section of road below the intersection is only open to residents. Officials with the Kootenai National Forest issued closure orders for an area including the Kilbrennan Lake Campground and O’Brien Creek, North Fork O’Brien Creek, Kilbrennan Lake Road and Eastside roads.

The news came shortly after Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office authorities rescinded an evacuation order for Kilbrennan Lake Road.

Officials issued the order after the South Yaak Fire expanded into the Kilbrennan Creek drainage on July 23. Homeowners along Kilbrennan Lake Road are still under pre-evacuation status and the thoroughfare is only open to residents, according to a social media post by the sheriff’ office.

Firefighters are still working in the area and authorities asked residents to drive slowly. Residents should avoid the road north of Skinner Lake as fire crews are using machines in the area.

The South Yaak Fire reached 1,985 acres at 10 percent contained as of Tuesday morning. Four crews, three dozers, 10 engines and 173 were working the blaze. Firefighters using burnouts were successful in containing the East Side and Kilbrennan Lake roads, officials said.

Crews continued to reduce vegetation near homes. Fire managers have positioned pumps, sprinklers and hoses to defend structures along the roads. Firefighters will also work to protect nearby timber values.