Single Publication

Evacuations reduced on Garden and Red Rock Fires

Red Rock Fire

Operations: Precipitation significantly reduced fire behavior, although heat remains in heavy fuels like logs, stumps, and trees, with flames still showing in some areas. Salt Creek is currently the area of most concern as it didn’t get much rain before the snow and smoke remained visible. Due to snow over the fire areas, firefighters assessed and monitored the fire yesterday but did not actively engage. Today, access will remain limited due to snow, rain, and freezing temperatures, but crews will engage the fire where they can safely do so. They’ll continue to patrol and monitor the activity in Salt Creek and scout for additional secondary containment lines to the south. Fire managers will continue to assess needs on the Napias Creek Fire.

Garden Fire

Operations: Precipitation significantly reduced fire behavior on the Garden Fire. Yesterday, crews patrolled the fire’s edge along the Salmon River and Panther Creek corridors. The spike camp along the Salmon River Road was dismantled, and crews will now operate from the Salmon Incident Command Post. Today, crews will continue to patrol, monitor, and act if necessary and safe. Fire managers will begin assessing repair work that needs to be done on handlines.

Additional Information

Weather: Overnight low temperatures tonight should be in the 20s. Only very light precipitation is excepted overnight, limiting snowfall to under an inch. Afternoon high temperatures will rebound into the 40s. Humidity will dry out to 40 and 45% for the afternoon, when skies should clear. Wind will be light. Strong warming and drying will continue into the weekend, but another low is expected to move in Sunday night and Monday, bringing precipitation, high humidity, and cold temperatures.

Smoke: For smoke information, please go to: https://www.airnow.gov/education/what-you-can-do/, or  https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/ded7837a 

Closures: The Salmon‐Challis National Forest has implemented a separate and reduced Red Rock and Garden Fire Closure, Order Number: 04‐13‐24‐027 and Order Number 04-13-24-028, effective as of 8:00 pm, Wednesday, October 16, 2024. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/scnf/alerts-notices 

Safety: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Red Rock and Garden fire areas, which includes uncrewed aircraft systems or drones. Reminder that if you fly we can’t, unauthorized drone flights pose serious risks to firefighter and public safety and the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations. 

Please stay out of the fire area. There is still active fire behavior in the fire area, including group torching and crown runs. There are multiple roads and bridges that have been destroyed or are impassable. Entry into evacuation zones that are in “Go” status is prohibited. The updated forest closure notice that encompasses both the Red Rock Fire and Garden Fire areas includes multiple road and area closures. Barricade closures will be posted at road intersections and forest boundaries. 

Evacuations: For evacuation information in Lemhi County regarding both the Red Rock and Garden fires please go to: https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/emergency-management-department.