Single Publication

A Community Meeting will be held in Indian Valley on Tuesday, September 24th at 7:00 p.m. at the Indian Valley Community Hall, 803 Indian Valley Road, Indian Valley, 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 61 percent of the perimeter contained. 610 personnel are assigned, including 10 crews, 1 large helicopter, 1 small helicopter, 25 engines, 10 bulldozers, 15 water tenders, 7 excavators, 1 skidder, 7 masticators, 7 graders, and 8 ambulances. 

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

Operations: Yesterday, with drier weather operations section chief trainee CorDell Taylor observed “white, whispy smoke above the treeline” mainly on the eastern part of the fire. Pockets of heat remain scattered in areas of timber throughout the Lava Fire and as these areas continue to dry, smoldering logs, trees, and stumps may actively burn. However, due to the good work firefighters have done, these isolated areas pose little threat to additional fire growth. 

In the eastern flank, chippers reduced burnable vegetation along Forest Service Road 446E and Gopher Road. Firefighters continued to backhaul excess equipment and patrol and mop up isolated areas of heat as needed.  

Firefighters constructed direct line along the fire edge in the northern flank from Little Weiser River working east and working west from Forest Service Roads 835 to 766. Mop up continued around homes near Grays Creek. 

On the western flank, nine more miles of road grading was completed and excavators helped repair interior bulldozer lines. Crews also extinguished isolated areas of heat. They worked with resource advisors in the interior to assess additional needs. 

Crews continued to monitor the southern flank near the Gross community. Firefighters constructed direct and indirect line along Forest Service Road 653. 

Today, firefighters will continue to cool isolated pockets of heat and work alongside resource advisors throughout the fire to carry out and assess suppression repair needs to return areas to pre-fire conditions. 

On the eastern flank, chipping will reduce thick, burnable vegetation on Forest Service Roads 446E and Gopher Road. Crews will patrol Forest Service Road 404 and extinguish any heat sources they find, focusing on a depth of 100 feet from the line.  Firefighters will repair handlines and bulldozer lines and assess equipment needs such as a road repair graders. Firefighters will grade roadways between Campbell Creek boat ramp and God’s Acres.  

On the northern flank, firefighters continue to remove hazardous trees on Forest Service Road 206 to allow safe access to interior handlines. Crews continue to build direct line east along the fire edge towards Anderson Creek until it meets with a bulldozer line constructed from the north.  

On the western flank, crews will extinguish heat along containment lines near Forest Service Road 208. Firefighters will work in the southwest to repair bulldozer line that was installed for containment. Nearly 10,00 feet of fire hose no longer needed for suppression efforts will be backhauled. 

On the southern flank, firefighters continue to patrol and mop up any fire activity near the Gross community. Crews continue constructing direct and indirect handline northeast along Forest Service Road 653, while mopping up and cold trailing as needed. Chipping operations will occur on Forest Service Road 618.  

Weather/Fire Behavior: Another dry and fair day is forecasted today. Minimal cloud cover during the morning hours will increase during the afternoon and evening, shading to the fire. High temperature is expected to remain seasonable in the 60s. The weather system shouldn’t cause any rain on the fire; instead its moisture is expected to bring a small increase to the relative humidity. The winds are expected to remain weak during the passage of the system either at 3 to 6 mph with gusts up to 12 mph. 

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.  

Valley County Sheriff’s Office removed Zones 2 & 3 from LEVEL 1 “READY” status. Zones 4 – 6 remain in a LEVEL 1 “READY” Evacuation notice.  

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 southern portion of this closure area follows roads 601 (which remains closed) and 644 (which remains open). The northern boundary follows a portion of the Payette National Forest’s road 186 (open) and crosses over to the Boise National Forest just south of trail 116. Snowbank Road (446) and Sage Hen Reservoir area remain closed, French Creek Campground remains open. This closure adjustment became effective on September 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.  

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. 

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.