Stateline Complex Fire Update 7-26-21

 Virtual Public Meeting Scheduled for Tonight at 8pm/MDT Stateline Complex Fire Daily Update July 26, 2021

Acres:  3,271 acresPersonnel: 315Cause: LightningContainment: 3%
Start Date: Wednesday, July 7, 2021Location: All Fires are SW of St. Regis, Tumbledown ⁓16.5 miles, Dolly Fire ⁓12.5 miles, Simmons Ridge Fires ⁓15.5,  and Fly 2 & 3 are ⁓20 miles.Fuels: Mixed conifer
Announcement:  A Stateline Complex virtual community meeting is scheduled for tonight (Monday, July 26, 2021) at 8pm/MDT. The meeting will serve as an opportunity to provide all communities and individuals impacted by the Stateline Complex with a situational update and a platform to ask questions.
Overview: The Stateline Complex continues to experience slow and steady fire growth. Crews will continue to monitor fire activity, and where needed, will prep and construct direct and indirect line where highest probability of success exists. Cloud cover and moisture are expected to move in later in the afternoon today signaling a transition from the current drying trend. The Stateline Complex includes the following fires: Berge Peak - contained, Broadaxe - contained, Deception – 132 acre, Dolly Creek – 659 acre, Fly 2 – 7 acre, Fly 3 – 69 acre, Fly Creek – 5 acre, Simmons Ridge – 106 acre, Simmons Ridge 2 – 293 acre, Swimming Bear – 18 acre, Tumbledown – 1,953 acre, and Wampus Creek - 2 acre.  
Fire Update: Fires within the Stateline Complex continued moderately active fire behavior. A new fire, the Simmons Leg fire recorded at approximately 26 acres, has been added to the complex and is being monitored. Crews also made progress on the northwest corner of the Dolly Creek fire and the Fly 2 & 3 fires utilizing heavy equipment, hand crews, and a type 1 helicopter. Personnel continue to monitor fire activity via air and ground operations to identify suppression options for the remaining fires within the Complex. 
Weather: Today will mark a transition from warm, dry trends to cloudy, moist conditions later this afternoon and possibly into the weekend. Winds are expected out of the SW at a sustained 10-15 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. There will be a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday through Wednesday.
Closures: On Saturday, July 24, the Lolo National Forest issued several emergency closures due to increased fire activity on the Stateline Complex. Access to Diamond and Cliff Lakes remains closed as well as the following roads and trails:  Diamond Lake Road #7843, from milepost 0.00 at junction with Dry Creek Road #342 to the end of the road; Diamond Lake Trail #56, from milepost 0.00 at junction with Diamond Lake Road #7843 to the end of the trail; Cliff Lake Trail #100, from milepost 0.00 at junction with Diamond Lake Road #7843 to the end of the trail; and Dry Creek Divide Trail #203, from milepost 11.94 at junction with Dry Creek Road #342 to the end of the trail.    Additionally, a temporary flight restriction remains in effect for the entirety of the Stateline Complex area and several other areas remain closed, including Quartz Creek as well as the following: St. Joe River Rd/Highway 50 between Bluff and Bruin Creek (last turnaround for large recreational vehicles is Eagle Creek); FSR 1216 from its junction at Highway 218 to its terminus; Gold Flat Campsite (T16N, R30W, Section 23); several trails and areas within the St. Joe Ranger District. The latest information is available at the links below. All closure information will continue to be available on the Stateline Complex Inciweb page (link below). Dry Creek Road #342 remains open for motorized use. 
Restrictions: Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect for the Idaho Panhandle (Coeur d’Alene and Grangeville dispatch areas). 
More Information: Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7627/Idaho Panhandle National Forests Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USFSIPNFLolo National Forest: https://www.facebook.com/USFSIPNFFire Restriction Information: http://www.idahofireinfo.com/ and https://www.mtfireinfo.org/ Area Closure Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ipnf/alerts-notices.