Stage 3 mandatory evacuations were issued along the Salmon River Wednesday from French Creek to Riggins over worries the Tepee Springs Fire could reach homes and other structures there.

The fire remains about six miles south of the river, said fire information officer Chris Wyatt.

The Bureau of Land Management closed its land on the east side of U.S. Highway 95 south of Riggins and on the north side of the river east of Riggins. The Salmon River Road was closed at its junction with U.S. Highway 95.

Little other information was available on the fire's activity Wednesday, according to Wyatt. He said the blaze continued to spread north toward the Salmon River and produced a column of smoke visible at the main fire camp south of New Meadows.

"It was making some smoke so I'm assuming it was pretty active," he said.

At the last update, the fire burning south of Pollock on the east side of U.S. Highway 95 in southern Idaho County had covered more than 18,600 acres.

Stage 3 evacuations were also issued near the 4,670-acre Woodrat Fire near Syringa. Fire information officer Jennifer Costich said the evacuation notice, which stretched from Suttler Creek Road at U.S. Highway 12 to more than a mile east of Syringa, was enacted because of a spot fire on Ought Seven Ridge that was between the main fire line and firefighters working to catch flames that crossed a key fire line. She said firefighters had to disengage from the spot fire to ensure they were not going to be trapped by flames.

"The unknown and the fact there could be more spot fires triggered the conservative approach to make sure we were keeping residents safe in the area," she said.

Firefighters were able to catch the spot, which she said was about a half-acre in size.

The lower Selway River between O'Hara Creek and the Fenn Ranger Station remains under a Stage 3 evacuation notice because of the 8,500-acre Slide Fire. Costich said the fire didn't move much Wednesday but a finger of the blaze is creeping into Rock Creek above some structures. Fire crews are working to burn between the homes and the front of the fire.

The inversion over the 67,903-acre Grizzly Bear Complex near Troy, Ore., lifted enough Wednesday to induce active burning. Firefighters are working to catch a spot fire that got behind their line on the 62 Road on the southern flank.

Air quality remained poor over the rest of the region Thursday with readings ranging from unhealthy to hazardous in many areas. The smoke kept helicopters, a critical firefighting tool, grounded on many fires including the Selway Complex that includes the 24,000-acre Wash Fire and the 1,350-acre Baldy Fire. Fire information officer Catherine Hibbard said the Baldy fire was active on its north and west sides and firefighters are looking to establish contingency lines along area roads. The Wash Fire is slowly moving to the southeast. Fire crews used dozers to dig fire line on Horse Ridge and to widen the Anderson Butte Trail.

Crews working on the Municipal and Fisher fires near Orofino and Craigmont continued to patrol and mop up hot spots, said fire information officer John Anderson. The incident command team in charge of firefighting efforts there will take over the Clearwater Complex near Kamiah today.

Stage 1 evacuation notices remain in place for the 3,225-acre Jay Point Fire about 1.5 miles west of Powell. The fire sits above the smoke inversion and burned actively Wednesday. Fire crews are working to protect structures near the Powell Ranger Station.

On the Red River Ranger District, the Lone Park Fire about three miles east of the Cook Ranch was active Wednesday and grew to about 100 acres. Firefighters have structure protection in place at the ranch and are assessing needs at the near by Mallard Ranch. Two firefighters are stationed at Whitewater Ranch and patrolling the 1,250-acre Rattlesnake Fire. The fire is burning northwest from Crofoot Ranch toward the Sheep Hill Lookout.

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Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2273. Follow him on Twitter @ezebarker.