The number of earthquakes in Central Idaho continues to grow this week, as a significant quake “swarm” has been happening along the Sawtooth Fault. The U-S Geological Survey has recorded upwards of 52-small quakes since last Sunday, with a number of them ranging between 2.5 and 4.0 magnitude.
The largest quake hit just before 5 pm Wednesday. Nearly all of the quakes have been centered in the country between Stanley and Challis, the same location where a 6.5 quake struck in March 2020. That was the so-called “Lockdown” or “Pandemic Quake” that rattled Western Montana.
The fault has remained very active over the past 5 years. There’s been no damage, but people as far away as Boise have noticed the shaking.
Mopping up on the Banana Lake Fire
Firefighters working the Banana Lake Fire in Sanders County believe they’re getting the upper hand on the blaze north of Plains.
Public Information Officer Nick Holloway says that’s good news, considering how the fire erupted Saturday. He says local firefighters from Plains, the DNRC, and others helped until a Type 3 Team could arrive.
Holloway says this is what’s known as a “dirty fire”, with lots of unburned vegetation because it’s early in the season and the fire was moving fast…