Courtesy Judith Downing

Smoke filters over the Sun Valley ski resort near Ketchum from the nearby Castle Rock Fire

KETCHUM, ID - The Ketchum area is under siege, as a serious fire burns dangerously close to the resort town.

Fire forces evacuations

Fire and law enforcement officials have relaxed an evacuation order south of Ketchum, due to improved weather conditions and decreased wind.

Some homes previously under a mandatory evacuation are now part of a voluntary evacuation. Homes north of Greenhorn Gulch and south of St Luke's Wood River Medical Center on the west side of Highwy 75, as well as Warm Springs Road west of Gates Road are still under the stronger mandatory order.

A larger area formerly evacuated is now in a voluntary evacuation zone:

- The area south of Greenhorn Gulch and north of Ohio Gulch Road on the west side of Highway 75

- Homes north of Ohio Gulch and South of St. Luke's on the east side of Highway 75

- All homes accessible by East Fork Rd.

- To the west of Highway 75, north of Ketchum city limits to Fox Creek

Entry to those areas is limited to residents only, and people with livestock are being advised to keep animals out of the area.

The fire has burned 41,090 acres, and is 31 percent contained. 1,630 firefighters are on the fire lines.

The fire burned within just feet of the Seattle Ridge Lodge on Bald Mountain. Fire crews were able to protect the lode from damage.

Sun Valley spokesman Jack Sibbach says firefighters and snow machines used to spray water on the blazes last night kept the fires from damaging any Bald Mountain ski lifts and the Seattle Ridge day lodge. The 17,000-square-foot, log lodge that opened in 1993 is the most popular lunch and rest spot for skiers.

Sibbach says strong winds fanned fires and ignited spot fires on the back side of the mountain and burned close to the lodge, though some of the ski runs were singed by the flames.

We expect new photos of the area this afternoon - check back with KTVB.COM.

St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center is in the evacuation zone, but officials tell NewsChannel 7 that the hospital will remain open for emergency medical services. The Ketchum fire department is stationed at the facility to protect the vital service during the fire. Hospital officials were able to discharge all patients, freeing the facility of all inpatient cases.

A meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday at Hemmingway Elementary to update residents on the fire's progress.

Governor Butch Otter cut short his trip to Oklahoma over the weekend because of the fires. Otter was in Oklahoma visiting Idaho troops being deployed to Iraq. He was not scheduled to return until late this evening – but is flying straight to central Idaho this afternoon.

The fire is forcing the closure of Highway 75 in the area periodically for firefighting efforts.  Officials are asking people driving on Highway 75 to refrain from stopping to view the fire - they say several accidents have occurred, diverting resources from fire-related activities.

School will be closed throughout the Wood River Valley both Monday, August 27 and Tuesday, August 28.  The closure effects Hemingway Elementary Wood River Middle School and High School, Hailey, Woodside and Bellevue Elementary Schools and the Silver Creek Alternative School.  Classes at the Blaine County Community College will be cancelled as well.