Single Publication

Wednesday September 18, 2024 

Gem County and Adam County downgraded evacuation levels per Sheriff’s Offices (see below). 

Emmett and Cascade Ranger Districts on the Boise National Forests are rescinding Stage 1 fire restrictions beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 20, 2024.  

A Community Meeting will be held in Cascade TODAY, Wednesday September 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the Cascade Fire Department, 109 East Pine Street, Cascade, Idaho 

Overview: The Lava Fire is on the Boise and Payette National Forests and lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the Idaho Department of Lands. The fire is located north of Emmett and west of Lake Cascade and started by lightning on Monday, September 2. It is burning in tall grass, brush, and timber.  

The Lava Fire is currently 97,844 acres with 44 percent of the perimeter contained. There are 792 personnel are assigned, including 19 crews, 2 large helicopters, 1 small helicopter, 53 engines, 12 bulldozers, 15 water tenders, 6 excavators, 1 skidders and 8 ambulances. 

Any property remaining in an area that is either evacuated or impacted by Forest Service closures must remain in place until fire managers, Sheriff’s departments, and emergency management departments deem the area is safe for reentry.  

Operations: Yesterday, rainy conditions prevented personnel and equipment from engaging on the line due to slick, slippery roads and terrain. When weather was a safety issue out on the fireline, firefighters seized the opportunity to continue their training and equipment maintenance. Personnel rotated participation in an exercise that simulated an “incident within an incident” (IWI). This allowed crews to practice responding to an incident that may occur during a wildfire and enhance their medical response skills. 

Today, fire suppression activities include handlines, dozer lines, engines, helicopters, chippers, drones and suppression repair containment lines around the fire perimeter. 

Structure protection continues all around the fire including God’s Acres, the Cascade Christian Church Camp, Tamarack Ski Resort, Little Weiser Road, and Mesa Communities. Activities include assessments, protection plans, and hose lays. Personnel will identify and map water handling equipment in structure protection areas. 

On the northern flank, firefighters will scout line from Grays Creek Road to the east in steep terrain and timber. A drone infrared (IR) mission is planned weather permitting. Crews are using bulldozers and masticators between Indian Mountain Road and Jeep Mountain Road to complete indirect line. Saw work along the 435 Road to remove hazard trees improving firefighter access to interior lines continues.  

On the eastern flank, chipping operations to reduce heavy fuels around the structures along Forest Service Road 446E and Gopher Road and saw work along the 404 Road system to remove hazard trees continue.  

On the southern flank, Firefighters will engage directly with handlines in the Gross Community and deploy hose lines as needed along Service Road 653 to Sage Hen Reservoir and Forest Service Road 626. Crews will monitor and patrol the southern perimeter line throughout their shift for heat removing all threats to the control line. 

On the western flank, personnel will patrol and monitor all control lines north to south lines for heat by actively mopping up and mitigating all threats to control lines. Patrolling continues around range allotments, grasslands, and private property outside the fire perimeter line. Roads degraded by fire traffic will be maintained with equipment today as suppression repair continues.  

Weather/Fire Behavior: Yesterday, the fire received heavy amounts of rainfall with 0.5-2.25 inches of rain estimated across the entire fire. Light rain showers may persist early this morning with calm and fair-weather conditions the rest of the day. Temperatures will return to the 50s with relative humidity of 60 percent. Light winds are forecasted to remain westerly to northwesterly with gusts in the teens mph. Due to the rain, fire activity is predicted to be minimal with creeping and smoldering in sheltered areas. Firefighters will be watching for new ignitions from recent lightning that may ignite when the sun returns. 

Evacuations: 

Adams County Sheriff’s Office Downgraded to a Level 1 “READY” for residents south of South Grays Creek, along Little Weiser River Road in Indian Valley, North of South Grays Creek Road to Highway 95, and the Mesa Area. These evacuations notices are effective as of Tuesday, September 17, 2024.   

Gem County Sheriff’s Office A LEVEL 1 “READY” Evacuation notice has been issued to residents on Third Fork Road (North of Nesbitt Lane), Second Fork Road (North of Nesbitt Lane), Nesbitt Lane. The Sage Hen Reservoir area remains in A LEVEL 2 “SET.”   

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 Zones 2 – 6 are in a LEVEL 1 “READY” Evacuation notice. All remaining zones have been removed from any evacuation status for the Lava Fire effective Tuesday, September 17, 2024.  

Forest Closures and Restrictions: The Boise and Payette National Forests implemented a joint Lava 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. The current fire closure order is being reevaluated because of the work by firefighters and recent weather. We expect to have changes to the Closure Order in the next couple of days. 

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.