KELLOGG — Progress is being made on the Gold Run Fire burning on the hillsides between Elizabeth Park and Big Creek.

According to Idaho Department of Lands Public Information Officer Jane Kreller, the fire remains estimated at 235 acres and was 20% contained as of Wednesday afternoon.

No injuries or fatalities have been reported.

Kreller said approximately 200 personnel from several agencies are now assigned to the fire and that more than 120 structures remain threatened. 

Three nonresidential outbuildings have been confirmed lost, with no additional structures reported destroyed. Crews have secured firelines around some threatened structures and continue assessing impacted areas.

Among the structures destroyed by the fire were the maintenance building and the golf cart storage facility at Shoshone Golf Course. On Wednesday, the golf course released a statement on their Facebook page, acknowledging the damage and asking that people give fire crews space to work. 

"At this time, we do not know the extent of the damage to the course," the post read. "What we do know and would like to update people on is that it’s not safe to be up there currently so the course is closed.  We ask that members and non-members avoid going up to the course until we find out more information. The main goal is to keep everyone safe. We will provide updates as we receive them."

The fire broke out about 3 p.m. Tuesday, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents from the unincorporated communities of Big Creek and Elizabeth Park. Evacuation notices remain in place in those areas.

Residents from Big Creek east to Johnson Street, on both sides of Interstate 90, remain in the “Ready” stage of evacuation, meaning they should be prepared to leave immediately, gather essential items, monitor official updates and be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.

“Everyone is doing a great job, but there is some concern that the wind could pick up one of those embers and drop it on a different hillside or even somebody’s roof, which is why we’re keep that evacuation order for another 24 hours,” Shoshone County Sheriff Shawn Wehr said.

Evacuation shelters remain in place at Real Life Ministries in Pinehurst and at US Metro Towing in Smelterville, which is allowing residents to stage equipment, machinery and other mobile property.

The Shoshone County Sheriff's Office is managing evacuation information in coordination with responding agencies.

"These measures are being taken for the safety of residents and emergency responders," Shoshone County Undersheriff Travis Skinner said Wednesday morning. "We ask everyone to comply with evacuation instructions and avoid travel into the affected areas unless you are an authorized responder."

Crews completed handline along the south side of the fire Wednesday evening and continue working to secure firelines around the perimeter.

Resources on scene include three Type 1 hotshot crews, with additional Type 2 initial attack crews joining suppression efforts.

Kreller said the current incident command, led by IDL Fire Warden Kerry Zufelt, will be replaced Thursday morning by a Type 3 Incident Management Team to support ongoing suppression efforts.

She said Type 3 teams provide a larger organizational structure for fires that become too complex for local resources to manage on their own.

The fire is under the protection of the Idaho Department of Lands, with cooperating agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, Silver Valley Fire Rescue, Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, Kellogg Police Department and Osburn Police Department.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. But it has been reported to have been sparked by a blown transformer, which prompted a power shutoff during the early stages of firefighting efforts.

There is no timetable for full containment, but Kreller said firefighters' primary goal is to contain and control the fire fully.