BOISE, Idaho — A big lightning storm that rolled over southern and central Idaho brought mixed news to firefighters, touching off numerous new blazes but pouring rain on existing wildfires that have kept crews busy for weeks.
On the 170-square-mile Beaver Creek Fire near Ketchum and Sun Valley, fire managers say the rain that fell early Friday kept fire activity to a minimum. The blaze hardly grew, despite gusty winds.
But in the Boise National Forest, much of the rain stayed away and dry lightning sparked at least 13 new fires.
The Little Queens Fire, burning on about 20 square miles near the remote mining hamlet of Atlanta, didn’t get any of the moisture.
Atlanta remains under a mandatory evacuation, though some persistent residents have insisted on staying in their homes or cabins.
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