Cool temperatures, rain help slow Larson fire

Cool temperatures and rain helped slow down the Larson fire and aided firefighters in getting a line a quarter way around the 1,432-acre Coleville blaze

Incident Commander Marty Scheuerman reported that the temperature dropped to 37 degrees and winds slowed allowing hand crews to catch up with the blaze.

Three helicopters are flying in support of ground personnel on the fire. Air tankers will be able to fly today since the high winds have decreased.

Fire Information Officer Mark Struble said Highway 395 remains closed at Holbrook Junction and Bridgeport. The highway may reopen later today, though a time has not been set.

Struble said fire officials hope evacuees from Marine Corps housing north of town will be able to return home today. Coleville between Larson and Cunningham lanes remains evacuated. Struble said the threat to the 50 homes in the area is diminishing. The number of structures lost in the fire remains two outbuildings.

More than 600 people are fighting the fire including several East Fork Fire District personnel.