Single Publication

The West Mountain Complex includes five fires- Boulder, Snag, Wolf Creek, Dollar, and Goat Fires. Read our daily update for more information. Scroll to the bottom of the page for PDF versions of the daily update, the daily map, and the daily smoke report.

QUICK FACTS
Fire  |  Location  |  Size  |  Containment  |  Start Date
Boulder  |  9 miles SW of Cascade  |  2,305 acres  |  39%  |  7/24/2024
Wolf Creek  |  5 miles W of Donnelly  |  1,154 acres  |  95%  |  7/24/2024
Snag  |  11 miles E of Cascade  |  23,100 acres  |  2%  |  8/5/2024
Dollar  |  18 miles NE of Cascade  |  2,449 acres  |  0%   |  8/5/2024
Goat  |  11 miles SE of Cascade  |  1,718 acres  |  0%   |  8/5/2024

Cause: Lightning (All Fires)
Total Incident Personnel: 1,064

Soldiers of the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, continue to support firefighting crews. They are helping to secure the fireline by checking for hot embers in unburned fuels on the edge of the fire. In addition, they are assisting wildland fire crews with maintaining control lines, installing equipment, and completing mop-up. 

Weather | Anticipated Fire Behavior: 

Yesterday was warm, dry, and gusty with temperatures settling in the upper 60s to mid-70s. Afternoon humidities dropped to 20-25% with wind gusts up to 25 mph. Today’s conditions will be slightly cooler and breezy. Warmer temperatures and low humidities are expected for Thursday with potential of southerly winds impacting fire activity. Fire behavior is expected to increase where winds align with topography and slope. 

Boulder Fire: https://tinyurl.com/ycdfv3tv

On Tuesday, Fire crews continued to hold and improve control lines along the 446 Road. Today, if weather permits, firefighters will continue using direct fire suppression tactics on the northeast corner of the fire perimeter. Smoke may increase due to firing operations. Smoke is expected to subside after the firing operations are complete.

Dollar Fire: https://tinyurl.com/bef6r3tz

There was increased fire activity on the northern end of the Dollar Fire, which produced abundant smoke yesterday. Due to steep and rugged terrain, fire managers will monitor fire behavior by aerial resources in anticipation of increased fire activity influenced by the predicted breezy and drier weather conditions. Fire crews installed plumbing along the south end of the fire, which includes setting up water sources to help control fire spread. Today, fire crews will continue to monitor fire growth and apply indirect suppression tactics. 

Snag Fire: https://tinyurl.com/4k9dk3mu

Firefighting crews completed firing operations to hold and improve control lines on the northern perimeter of the fire. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) supported with firing operations along the Clear Creek Drainage. A scooper, a fixed-wing aircraft capable of dropping water, was used to control the fire intensity in the southwest corner of the fire perimeter. 

The Valley County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with Great Basin Incident Management Team 2, have established one-way escorts for residents and contractors through the Snag Fire affected areas. This escort will be provided for reasons of necessity and not for recreation purposes. For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/mtartvas

Wolf Creek Fire: https://tinyurl.com/mcksrfvh

Fire crews on the Wolf Creek Fire patrolled and monitored the edge of the fire to ensure no additional lingering hotspots are present. Firefighters completed more repair work to improve previously installed dozer and handlines. 

Goat Fire: https://tinyurl.com/2h4a3dvr

Firefighters on the Wolf Creek Fire prepped fireline and completed chipping operations to reduce fuel load and enhance fire holding capabilities. Fire crews will continue to scout and improve line in anticipation of increased fire activity that is anticipate due to potential change in weather forecasted for coming days. 

Other fire information: 

Middle Fork Complex (Nellie, Anderson, and Bulldog Fire): https://tinyurl.com/3rhawr5y 

Wapiti Fire: https://tinyurl.com/yf7reydj Bulltrout Fire: https://tinyurl.com/tatwwk5t 

SNAG FIRE EVACUATION INFORMATION

The Valley County Sheriff’s Office issued a “ready” evacuation order for Warm Lake residents and the North Shore Lodge at Warm Lake on August 7. The map can be found on Inciweb: https://tinyurl.com/42auxnk8.  A second “ready” evacuation order was issued on August 8 for the Horsethief area, including the YMCA Camp, and areas of Scott Valley. This map can also be found on Inciweb, with the relevant areas outlined in purple:  https://tinyurl.com/4vfj657x

Review the READY, SET, GO evacuation procedure for Valley County: https://www.co.valley.id.us/ReadySetGo

For timely information on evacuations, check out your county’s emergency alert system. 

• Valley County: https://www.co.valley.id.us/CompleteEmergencyNotificationandAlerting
• Adams County: https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/PublicUser.aspx?regionid=1077

ROAD CLOSURES

Warm Lake Highway Closure: The Valley County Sheriff’s Office has closed Warm Lake Highway due to the Snag Fire. The Warm Lake Highway is closed at the Horsethief Road intersection east toward Warm Lake and from the Johnson Creek Road intersection west toward Warm Lake. Scott Valley residents will be allowed access. For updates on county closures visit: https://www.co.valley.id.us/departments/SheriffsOffice.

FOREST CLOSURES

Hunting Closures: Prior to entering the backcountry, Idaho Fish and Game advises hunters to check with their local Forest Service ranger district offices or county sheriffs’ offices for fire closures in their hunt areas. For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/4td8hwzc

The Boise National Forest has modified or expanded their wildfire closures August 12, 2024 to address public and firefighter safety and respond to increased wildfire growth. This closure area begins at the south end of the Dollar/Oro (Snag) fire closure area and continues south to Crouch and the Banks-Lowman Hwy, and east to the 579, 563 and 582 roads.

Wolf Creek Fire Closures: On the Payette National Forest, a closure including popular National Forest System roads around the Wolf Creek fire such as: sections of NFS #1763 (West Mountain Jeep Trail), #835, #206, #326. On the Boise National Forest, Forest Road #435 (Anderson Lake Road) was closed on August 1. 

Boulder Fire Closures: The Boise National Forest has issued a closure order #0402-04-98 for National Forest System (NFS) roads, trails and lands encompassing the Boulder Fire. The closure was enacted to protect public safety and support fire suppression activities. The closure includes Blue Lake and Snowbank Mountain Road (#446) along with all #404 and #421 system roads. 

For maps and more detailed descriptions of the closures on the Payette National Forest, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/payette/alerts-notices

For maps and more detailed descriptions of the closures on the Boise National Forest, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices 

Fire Restrictions: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions have been issued for the Payette Fire Restrictions Area on the Payette National Forest and the West Central Mountains Fire Restrictions Area on the Boise National Forest. For more information on the restrictions and a very helpful interactive map, visit https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/

Important Links

• Payette National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/payette
• Payette National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PayetteNationalForest
• Boise National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/boise
• Boise National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoiseNationalForest
• Idaho Department of Lands: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/