Single Publication

Incident Commander:  Rick Connell, Northern Rockies Team 5

Middle Fork Complex Location: 9 miles east of Garden Valley, ID   

Bulltrout Location: 15 miles WNW OF Stanley, ID                 Wapiti Location: 2 miles southwest of Grandjean, ID

Start Dates:  07/24/24 – 08/06/2024

Cause: Lightning

Size:                                       

Bulltrout: 271 acres                         Wapiti: 2452 acres

Middle Fork Complex:                    Bulldog: 1771 acres              Anderson: 1594 acres            Nellie: 1104 acres

Containment:                          Middle Fork Complex: 1%                Bulltrout: 75%           Wapiti: 0%

Resources on site:      

Middle Fork Complex: 1 hotshot crew; 5 type 2 hand crew; 9 engines; 3 bulldozers; 3 water tenders

Wapiti: 1 type 2 hand crew; 3 engines

Bulltrout: 1 engine

Total Personnel:        Middle Fork Complex: 296           Bulltrout:18               Wapiti: 52

KEY MESSAGE:

Join us for a Middle Fork Complex, Bulltrout, and Wapiti Fire Community Meeting Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at 7pm for an in-person explanation of current fire activity and planned actions on these fires. The Community Meeting will be located at the Lowman Emergency Services Station 80, at 8000 HWY 21, Lowman, ID. 

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS: 

Middle Fork Complex: The Middle Fork Complex is comprised of Bulldog, Nellie, and Anderson fires. On the Bulldog Fire, firefighters continue to work along the Middlefork River Road thinning and trimming to remove flammable debris. Strategic overnight firing operations continue, and crews are securing the edges and holding the constructed control lines along the south side of the fire. Firefighters are working to protect private property and structures in the vicinity of Crouch.  

The public is reminded that the Middle Fork Road is closed at the Forest Service boundary just south of Lightning Creek for firefighter and public safety. The Nellie and Anderson fires are burning in remote, rugged terrain. Yesterday activity on the fires increased due to changes in weather and crews continue to access opportunities to access the fire and lookout on Anderson. Crews plan to utilize a helicopter to conduct strategic firing operations today ahead of the fire in order to reduce fuels availability.

Wapiti Fire: Yesterday fire activity increased due to changes in weather and smoke was visible from State Highway 21 please use caution while driving in the area. Firefighters continue to ensure the structures in the vicinity of the fire are protected with improved defensible space, water pumps, and sprinklers. Firefighters are assessing the fire for opportunities to conduct strategic firing operations when conditions are favorable. 

Bulltrout Fire: Crews will continue patrolling the fire area, repairing areas affected by suppression efforts, and extinguishing pockets of heat in the interior of the fire on the south side of the fire. 

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:

Sunday a warm and dry air mass remained over the fire. As the inversion lifted, the temperatures increased, and relative humidity lowered. Today similar weather conditions are expected, with south/southwest terrain driven winds 5 mph and gusts between 10-12 mph. Fire activity will continue burning in timber and understory with group torching and become more active when the sky clears and inversions lift, specifically on ridgetops and areas exposed to winds. 

CLOSURES, RESTRICTIONS, AND EVACUATIONS:

Middle Fork Complex: The Boise County Sheriff's Office continues to maintain the Level 2 evacuation notice for residents on and near the Middlefork Road between Stump Ranch Road up to Tie Creek Campground. The Boise National Forest issued areas closure for the fire area on August 8th (Closure #0402-06-58 and Closure # 0402-06-57).

Wapiti Fire: The evacuation order for Summer Homes and the Sawtooth Lodge remain in effect for the Wapiti Fire, as does the area closure issued by the Sawtooth and Boise National Forests (Closure #0402-05-92 effective July 27, 2024). This Order is for public and firefighter safety during fire suppression efforts of the Wapiti Fire. 

Bulltrout Fire: The Bull Trout Fire Area Closure (0402-05-91) remains in effect for the roads, trails, and area surrounding the Bull Trout Fire. Boise National Forest issued this Order on July 27, 2024. It will be rescinded as soon as it is safe to do so. 

Closure information and maps are posted on the Forests’ website and the fire’s Inciweb page as they are in place. https://tinyurl.com/2u8v3pf7 

The Boise National Forest, Idaho Department of Lands, and Bureau of Land Management are in Stage 1 fire restrictions on state, endowment, private and federal lands within the West Central Mountains Fire Restrictions Zone. For more information on the restrictions and a map visit: 

https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/