KGVO News received the following news release from Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman and fire officials.:

Press Release

This afternoon, (August 4) effective at 4:30 p.m., Chris Hoffman, Ravalli County Sheriff; Brad Mohn, Hamilton Fire Chief; Julie King, Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor, and Greg Poncin, Incident Commander Northern Rockies Incident Management Team, have announced changes in the evacuation areas for the Roaring Lion Fire.

Areas that remain in the Stage 2 Evacuated Zones include Roaring Lion Road west and south of Springhill Road, and south and west of Gold Creek Loop to Hayes Creek, to include Two Horse Lane, Lupine Ridge, Whispering Pine, and Highland Drive.

The new Stage 1 Warning area is now from Blodgett Camp Road south to Gold Creek Loop, west of Hwy 93 and east of the Stage Two area to include Westside Road. The eastern boundary remains Hwy 93 south of Roaring Lion Road.

Roaring Lion Road and Lost Horse Road will be open to local traffic only. Residents of those neighborhoods will be issued a permit for ease of passage through the Sheriff's Road block. Permits can be obtained at the public meeting tonight at 7:00 at the Assembly Of God Church in Hamilton, or at the road blocks stationed at those roads.

The Incident Management Team, Hamilton Fire Department and Northwest Power, remind residents that hazards still exist in the area and to use caution when re-occupying their homes. More information will be available for homeowners at the public meeting tonight, Bitterroot National Forest, and future press releases.

Stage 1 Evacuation Alert and Warning means there is still a high probability of the need to evacuate the area. Residents should not move property or livestock back into the warning areas, and residents with special health needs or other concerns should remain in their relocated places.

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