Single Publication

Thursday September 19, 2024

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

A Community Meeting will be held in Ola tomorrow Friday, September 19, at 7:00 p.m. at the Ola Community Hall, 21750 Main Street, Ola, 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 57 percent of the perimeter contained. 779 personnel are assigned, including 19 crews, 1 large helicopters, 1 small helicopter, 37 engines, 11 bulldozers, 16 water tenders, 7 excavators, 5 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, smoke was visible in the eastern, northeastern, and southern flanks as conditions became drier in areas such as God’s Acres, Willow Subdivision and areas north of Sage Hen Reservoir. In the eastern flank, crews chipped limbs that were removed to construct fire line on Forest Service Road 446E and Gopher Road. Structure protection specialists continued to backhaul fire hose to areas of greater need. Bulldozer line was improved in the northern flank between Indian Mountain Road and Jeep Mountain Road. Hand crews worked direct line by the Little Weiser River and moved west toward a bulldozer line along Cascade Ridge. In the western flank, road graders improved the Little Wieser Road system. Crews remained on patrol and mop up along bulldozer contained line along the western flank. In the southern flank, three hotshot crews and engines engaged on the fire perimeter along Forest Service Road 653 and continued mop up. Rocky, steep terrain along the southern flank is difficult for firefighters to access, but firefighters continued to make gradual progress. Infrared drones had three missions and detected heat sources interior of fire lines.

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 and Willow Subdivision. Activities include checking sprinkler systems and chipping along Forest Service Road 404 and hose lays. Personnel will identify and map water handling equipment in structure protection areas.

On the northern flank, firefighters will finish masticating cut limbs between Indian Mountain Road and Jeep Mountain Road and evaluate where they need to install fire hoses. Crews continue construction of direct control lines by little Weiser Creek and Forest Service Road 835 towards Forest Service Road 231. Firefighters are scouting ways to connect direct handline from the fire edge to the dozer line north between Indian Mountain Road and Jeep Mountain Road. Saw work will begin to remove hazardous trees on the Forest Service Road 435, Little Weiser Road, Forest Service Road 206, and Forest Service Road 835 to improve access to interior lines.

On the eastern flank, chippers will continue to reduce burnable vegetation around structures on Forest Service Road 446E and Gopher Road. Firefighters will continue saw work on the 404 road system and all access roadways to remove hazardous trees. Fire hoses and pumps will be backhauled to be used in areas of greater concern. Firefighters are working alongside resource advisors to repair dozer lines and ensure natural and cultural resources are protected. 

On the southern flank, firefighters will be in monitor status around the Gross Community ready to remove heat by mop up if necessary. Hotshot crews and masticators are steadily working direct line along the Forest Service Road 653 moving northeast in steep terrain. Crews are building handline directly at the fire’s edge and installing fire hose to the north of Sage Hen Reservoir and Forest Service Road 626. Drone pilots will fly drones in this area to detect areas of heat. 

On the western flank, crews will repair roads degraded by fire operations that will be returned to pre-fire conditions.

Weather/Fire Behavior: Dry and fair weather is forecasted all day. Minimal cloud cover will provide little to no shade across the fire. Although temperatures are below normal, they will continue to increase with highs in the 60s. Relative humidity will be 10 percent lower than yesterday at 50 percent, but remain high due to ground moisture. Light winds will remain westerly and weak from 3 to 7 mph with gusts to 13 mph. As conditions clear and dry out, fire behavior is expected to be minimal with smoldering and creeping in fully sheltered areas. Firefighters will continue to watch for new ignitions from recent lightning that may ignite when sunny conditions return.

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.