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The Wapiti Fire was started by lightning late in the evening of July 24, 2024, approximately 2 miles southwest of Grandjean, ID. Steep terrain, difficult access and unfavorable weather conditions have challenged firefighters. The Boise National Forest managed the fire until a Complex Incident Management Team was requested.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 5 assumed command of the Wapiti Fire at 6 am on August 10, 2024 and will manage it along with the Bulltrout fire and Middlefork Complex Fires: Bulldog, Nellie and Anderson. All of these fires, along with a number of others were started by the same series of thunderstorms between the 24th of July and August 6th.
Boise County Sherriff's Office evacuated Grandjean residents and the Forest has enacted a closure order for public safety. Please avoid the fire area so that fire suppression efforts are not impacted. Please refer to the maps and closure orders on the Boise National Forest’s Alerts and Notices webpage and Interactive Forest Closure Map for specific details
The Boise National Forest, Idaho Department of Lands, and Bureau of Land Management are in Stage 1 fire restrictions on state, endowment, private and federal lands within the West Central Mountains Fire Restrictions Zone. For more information, visit the Idaho fires Restrictions website at: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/
| Current as of | Wed, 08/14/2024 - 12:27 |
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| Incident Time Zone | America/Boise |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning/Natural |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | 2 miles southwest of Grandjean, ID |
| Incident Commander | Rick Connell, Incident Commander, Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 5 |
| Coordinates |
44° 09' 1'' Latitude
-115° 12' 18
'' Longitude
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| Total Personnel: | 56 |
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| Size | 3,104 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 0% |
| Estimated Containment Date | 9/30/2024 |
| Fuels Involved | Timber with litter and understory, short grass and brush with heavy dead fuels. |
| Significant Events | Active fire activity was observed, with surface burning in timber/understory, group torching, short-range spotting into receptive dead fuels. Fire behavior dependent on ventilation, dead fuel availability, and terrain influences. Live woody fuels beginning to become active. Fire remains active overnight in the thermal belt above 7000 ft. |
| Planned Actions |
Provide and improve protections for structures and improvements in Wapiti Creek, Bear Creek Summer Home Area, Camp Creek Summer Home Area, Sawtooth Lodge and infrastructure in the Grandjean area. Conduct firing operations based on fire behavior. Provide and improve protections for structures in the Bear Creek Summer Home Area, Camp Creek Summer Home Area and Grandjean area. Conduct firing operations based on fire behavior. Patrol/monitor fire perimeter. Ensure fire edge is secured. Assess protection needs for Hanging Valley. |
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| Projected Incident Activity |
There is a high potential that the fire will continue to spread west and north in the South Fork Payette River drainage, with backing, group torching, and short-range spotting fire behavior. South fire spread into the Wapiti Creek drainage with backing, group-torching and spotting fire behavior. The fire will continue to spread downhill and along the ridgelines to the west and north into the South Fork Payette River drainage. Isolated and group torching is expected and spotting will be likely. The interior will continue to burn within pockets of timber and understory. Fire behavior is expected to remain moderate to active during the night due to a strong thermal belt and down slope winds. |
| Remarks |
This incident in being managed by Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 5 along with Bulltrout and Middle Fork Complex |
| Weather Concerns | A passing weather system brought showers to the area Tuesday morning, along with cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity. Rainfall amounts across the fire area were less than 0.10 inches. This system moved away from the area by early afternoon, however the increase in moisture kept daytime RH values elevated above 25% across the fire area, while temperatures remained in the upper 60s and 70s. Winds continued to be terrain driven, with west winds gusting to near 15 mph along upper ridgelines during the afternoon. Moisture will remain in place Wednesday keeping afternoon RH above 25% and allowing for overnight recovery above 60% across all elevations. Afternoon temperatures Wednesday will remain in the 70s to low 80s, while winds continue to be terrain driven. With daytime heating a few showers and thunderstorms are possible around the general area. This moisture will remain in place through the remainder of the week, with another storm system bringing afternoon showers and thunderstorms Thursday. |
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