Sawtooth National Forest supervisor Bill LeVere expressed similar sentiments. Maybe it is, but I don't have any proof of that. LeVere said a number of people have stopped at Sawtooth National Forest headquarters in Twin Falls to ask about fires, but find that their favorite camping and recreation sites are still intact when they do. July was a little slow, she said, while August is strong so far. Chamber of commerce visitor center manager Shannon Harrigan said many people are calling to inquire about the fires, however.
People are worried about the smoke and wondering if the fires are close by.
Harrigan said it's possible that the fires are impacting local tourism, but said it would be a difficult thing to quantify. Whether or not it's making people change their plans, it's hard for me to say. Ten major fires were burning across Idaho yesterday and had burned over 350,000 acres since early last month. President Clinton was scheduled to visit a fire near McCall yesterday for a first-hand assessment of the worst fire season in years. Crews and equipment from 47 states, Canada and Mexico have been committed to fight the fires, according to the Associated Press.