Idaho Wildfire Threatens Sun Valley Resort

An enormous wildfire threatening the Sun Valley ski resort was nearly half contained Wednesday, but authorities said they didn't know when thousands of evacuees could return to the area.

About 2,000 homes have been evacuated, reports CBS News correspondent Stephan Kaufman, as the giant Castle Rock fire may soon get a push from winds generated by thunderstorms.

Fire crews were working long hours building and reinforcing fire lines.

"It took all night, from sundown to sunset," David Olson, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman, said of the burnout work. "This is a very key holding point."

The blaze in central Idaho had blackened about 70 square miles. No buildings have been damaged, but on Tuesday gusty wind pushed flames close to the borders of the Sun Valley Resort ski area.

The fire was started by lightning on Aug. 17.

About 1,640 firefighters were battling the blaze, using 15 helicopters, seven bulldozers and 102 engines. So far, no structures have been damaged by the fire.

Fire Information Officer Jay Nichols said the ousted homeowners took their evacuation orders in stride.

"Everybody was cooperative, and when it came time to get them out of the area, it was a nice, smooth, happy operation for all," Nichols told Kaufman.

The 510-room Sun Valley Resort was not evacuated. Accommodations were roughly 90 percent full, although some guests had canceled because of the fire, said Jack Sibbach, a spokesman for the Sun Valley Co.