Single Publication

Special Notes: As of 6am today, the Boulder Fire is part of the Lava Fire, being managed by the Southern Area Red Complex Incident Management Team. The Lava Fire is currently 93,751 acres with 6 percent containment. 

*** There will be a Community Meeting on Friday September 13th at 7:00 PM at the Ola Community Center 2175 Main Street, Ola, ID*** 

Many thanks to the Wyoming T6 under the leadership of Incident Commanders Josh Erikson and Jamie Ellington for the transition given to the Southern Area Team Red Team. Also, thank you to the Rocky Mountain Team 3 for their coordination and continued support during this transition. 

Overview: The Lava Fire is located on the Boise National Forest and the Payette National Forest, north of Emmet and west of Lake Cascade. The Lava Fire was started by lightning on Monday September 2 and is burning in tall grass, brush and timber. 

Any private property that remained in an area impacted by the Lava Fire, will need to remain in place until fire managers and Sheriff’s departments deem it safe for reentry. 

Operations: Yesterday, the structure protection group took advantage of the more favorable weather conditions to mop up and extinguish areas of heat around structures. Firefighters also worked to establish containment using roads and constructing dozer lines on the eastern flank. The fire has moved into a previous fire scar which has also slowed progression near Hazard Creek and Lookout Peak. The fire was active yesterday west of Lake Cascade near Deer Creek and Hurd Creek prior to the rain moving in. Structure protection was prioritized and continues in this area. On the western flank of the fire, dozer line has been established east of Indian Valley Road, North Crane Road and Spring Creek. 

Night shift crews continued to patrol and monitor for fire activity and checking for threats to lines and structures.

Today, fireline construction efforts will continue on all areas of the fire, taking advantage of cooler temperatures and higher humidity. Fire suppression activities will include creating handlines, dozer lines and using natural features to creating and reinforcing containment lines around the fire perimeter.

On the northern flank crews will continue to improve containment lines to slow fire growth to the north. Structure protection personnel will be conducting structure assessments in God’s Acres Subdivision and surrounding communities in Indian Valley. 

On the eastern flank Resources continue to improve and hold dozer lines along the Forest Service Road 404 and Willow Creek. Crews will also continue mopping up along the fire perimeter north of Boulder Creek. 

On the southern flank Control lines will be established and improved from the west to the east from Chief Eagle Eye Creek to Sage Hen Creek. 

Along the western flank resources are scouting opportunities to construct and connect containment line extending north to Little Weiser River Road. Firefighters will continue to monitor fire activity along this west side, keeping fire within current footprint protecting range allotment, grasslands and private property.   

Weather/Fire Behavior: Yesterday, precipitation was received across the fire area anywhere from a quarter to a half inch of rain, drastically decreasing overall fire activity. While this did not extinguish the fire, it gave the ground resources opportunities to install and improve lines. Today, humidity will remain high and temperatures will be much cooler, averaging about 20 to 25 degrees below normal. Wind gusts with thunderstorms are possible with winds from the west at 5-10 mph with possible gusts to 15 mph.  

Evacuations and road closures: 

Adams County Sheriff’s Office issued a LEVEL 3 “GO!” Evacuation notice to residents south of South Grays Creek and along Little Weiser Road in Indian Valley. A LEVEL 2 “SET” Evacuation has been issued for residents North of South Grays Creek Road to Highway 95, and a LEVEL 1 “READY” Evacuation has been issued for the Mesa area.

Gem County Sheriff’s Office issued a LEVEL 3 “GO!” Evacuation notice to residents on Third Fork Road (North of Nesbitt Lane), Second Fork Road (North of Nesbitt Lane), and the Sage Hen Reservoir area. Gem County Sheriff’s Office notified the residents in person on September 8th, 2024. A LEVEL 2 “SET” Evacuation has been issued for Nesbitt Lane residents. 

Gem County Road and Bridge issued the following road closures: Third Fork Road at Nesbitt Lane, Second Fork Road at Nesbitt Lane, and Nesbitt Lane. The Sweet-Ola Highway is closed at the High Valley intersection in Ola. Please be advised that the Gem County Sheriff’s Office is staffing the road closure check points.

Valley County Sheriff’s Office has downgraded zones 4, 5, 6 to a “Set” status, effective as of 9/12/2024 at 10:15 am. Zones 7 – 11 remain in their current unchanged in a “Set” status. 

Forest Closures and Restrictions: The Boise and Payette National Forests implemented a joint Lava and Boulder Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure for public and firefighter safety. The closure includes Forest Service lands north of the 601 Road (approximately 7 miles southwest of Smiths Ferry) and north all the way to the northernmost extent of Lake Cascade. This expanded closure order supersedes previous closure orders for the Lava and Boulder fires. 

A temporary flight restriction is in effect in and around the fire area. This includes the use of personal drones. If you fly, we cannot fly.