UPDATE, 10:50 a.m. Aug. 1: Fire officials say the Sharps Fire, a human-caused blaze that has caused evacuations in the Wood River Valley, has grown to more than 38,000 acres.

The growth of the blaze is due to windy, hot and dry conditions, officials said in an update Wednesday morning.

Although firefighting efforts were successful in raising the containment to 21%, active fire behavior is expected to continue as the fire burns through heavy downed fuels. Continual gusty winds are predicted for today, which may spread the fire further to the north. Less than 500th/inch of precipitation is expected on the fire as dry thunderstorms pass through the area.

Firefighters today will continue to focus on securing the south end of the blaze and improve the containment line. They also are working to limit fire spread to the north and west, in the area near Slaughterhouse and Quigley roads.

Original story

BLAINE COUNTY, Idaho (KLIX) - The Blaine County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday afternoon that more roads are closed due to the Sharps Fire near Carey, which now is estimated at nearly 35,000 acres.

The sheriff's office posted on its Facebook page that Quigley Road is now closed at the mouth of the canyon where the pavement ends; and Slaughterhouse Creek Road is closed where the pavement ends.

"These roads are being closed to restrict access into the fire area where crews are working," reads the social media post. "The Forest Service has closed Cove Creek Rd 1.5 miles from East Fork Rd."

Authorities ask that the public "stay out of all these areas and allow emergency personnel to focus on fighting the fire."

The human-caused fire, which started Sunday by someone shooting at an exploding target, has forced several additional road closures and evacuations. Those road closures include Muldoon Canyon Road from EE-DA-HO Ranch (east of Bellevue) to Hunt Road, Little Wood Reservoir road at the reservoir, High Five, Baugh Creek, and Bay Horse roads.

A report by the Associated Press says that the blaze has now reached the Sawtooth National Forest.

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