Single Incident Information

This Inciweb page is intended to provide a summary of wildfire incidents taking place in the Payette National Forest's part of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  Specific fires that are of a large size or a threatening value at risk will have individual Inciweb pages in addition to this summary page - links to those individual Inciweb pages will be provided below.

There is a misconception that all wildfires within a wilderness area are what some people term as "let burn" fires.  The Forest Service does not have a policy termed as "let burn," and in fact all wildfires whether within a wilderness or outside a wilderness are evaluated by looking at the values at risk, burning indices, and firefighter and public safety to determine the specific strategies that will be taken on every wildfire.

A Forest may utilize all the wildfire land fire tools available when taking actions for an unplanned ignition whether lightning caused, or human caused – there is no one right answer nor requirement for every wildfire to be addressed in a given way as every fire is different and needs to be addressed based on the characteristic of that fire and the values at risk.  We use all available tools and technologies to ensure proactive fire detection, risk assessments, fire response, and post-fire recovery. Every wildfire receives a risk-informed response with collaborative effective strategies at the local level.

Standard wildfire strategies are: Suppression, Containment/Confinement, Zone-Point Protection and Monitor.  Any combination of these strategies can be and typically are use on every wildfire incident whether within or outside a wilderness area.

Our goal for managing wildfire in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness is: 

• Lightning caused fires will be permitted to play, as nearly as possible, their natural ecological role within the Wilderness, if risks and consequences of the wildfire can be reduced to an acceptable level. 

The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Incident Management Operating Plan outlines processes and procedures for addressing wildfire is the Wilderness.

The Forest Service Manual and the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Management Plan directs us to “Conduct all fire management activities within wilderness in a manner compatible with overall wilderness management objectives.” We will strive to use tactics and equipment that causes the least disturbance to wilderness landscapes and visitor solitude and locate fire camps, heli-spots, and other temporary facilities or improvements outside of the wilderness, whenever feasible. We rehabilitate disturbed areas within wilderness to as natural an appearance as possible.

Active Wildfires within the Payette’s part of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area:

• Parks Fire:  Detected the evening of August 11.  Located a ½ mile south of the Elkhorn Ridge Fire on the Bitterroot National Forest, and on the south side of the Salmon River - approximately 1.5 miles upriver from Chamberlain Creek.  The fire estimated now at 6 acres in size. This lightning caused fire is being permitted to play, as nearly as possible, its natural ecological role within the Wilderness.  Zone/Point Protection measures will be taken if necessary.

   

• Monumental Fire:  Detected the evening if August 6.  This is a Full Suppression wildfire located near the wilderness boundary approximately 5 miles from the Stibnite Mining District.  The fire is at 7 acres and staffed with firefighters with aerial support from helicopters and single engine airtankers.  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idpaf-monumental-fire

   

• Farrow Fire: Detected August 5 and currently at 300 acres.  Located 1 north of the Iodine Fire, approximately 3 miles southeast of Cold Meadows Guard Station.  This lightning caused fire will be permitted to play, as nearly as possible, its natural ecological role within the Wilderness with Zone-Point Protection as needed.  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idpaf-farrow-fire 

   

• Egan Fire:  Detected August 5 at 1/10th of an acre.  Located 1 ½ mile south of Solders Bar.  Aerial Recon on august 7 showed no smoke over the fire and no visible flames. This lightning caused fire will be permitted to play, as nearly as possible, its natural ecological role within the Wilderness. No separate Inciweb page for this incident.

   

• Iodine Fire:  Detected July 26 at ¼ of an acre.  Located approximately 4 miles southeast of Cold Meadows Guard Station.  Aerial Recon on August 7 showed no smoke over the fire and no visible flames.  This lightning caused fire will be permitted to play, as nearly as possible, its natural ecological role within the Wilderness.  No separate Inciweb page for this incident.

Previous Wildfires within the Wilderness:

McCoy and Whimstick Fire:  Detected August 11at 1/10th of an acre and 1/4 of an acre respectively.  These fires were under a full suppression strategy due to values at risk.  Both fires have declared out as of August 12.

Cave Fire:  Detected August 11 at 1/10th of an acre.  Located 1.5 miles up Cave Creek north of the Big Creek drainage.  This fire was under a full suppression strategy due to values at risk and was declared out on August 12.