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:                                       

Middle Fork Complex:                    Bulldog: 2,585 acres                        Nellie: 5,116 acres

Bulltrout: 271 acres                         Wapiti: 3,104 acres

Containment:                          Middle Fork Complex: 0%                Bulltrout: 92%           Wapiti: 0%

Resources on site:      

Middle Fork Complex: 3 hotshot crews; 5 type 2 hand crews; 11 engines; 2 bulldozers; 4 water tenders

Wapiti: 1 type 2 hand crew; 8 engines; 1 water tender

Bulltrout: 1 engine

Total Personnel:        Middle Fork Complex: 388           Bulltrout:18               Wapiti: 57

KEY MESSAGE:

On August 12, 2024, the Boise National Forest adjusted the fire closure areas. All roads and trails remain closed within these closures, to provide for public and firefighter safety. Please reference specific closures on the Forest’s website and the fire’s InciWeb page. 

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS: 

Middle Fork Complex: The Middle Fork Complex is comprised of the Bulldog and Nellie fires.  

On the Bulldog Fire, firefighters continue holding and extinguishing heat along the southern edge of the fire. As a result of successful strategic firing operations, crews have connected the fire perimeter to the 2006 Rattlesnake fire area and are looking for opportunities to continue to the east along the perimeter. On the north side of the fire, crews are looking for opportunities to use direct and indirect tactics to slow the spread to the west and north. The public is reminded that the Middlefork Road is closed at the Forest Service boundary just north of Lightning Creek for firefighter and public safety. Crews continue to work to protect private property and structures in the vicinity of Crouch.

The Nellie fire is burning in steep remote terrain and is backing into the 2016 Pioneer fire area. Crews are looking for natural barriers to utilize, and continue to provide point protection to lookouts and a communication tower. The public is reminded that Forest Service Road #555 is closed at the intersection of Highway 17 all the way to the Forest Service Road #579 intersection.

Wapiti Fire: The Wapiti fire is actively burning in rugged high elevation terrain. It is primarily driven by winds on ridges in exposed areas. Firefighters continue to improve the water pumping system that provides sprinklers to the communities near the fire. In the Hanging Valley subdivision, crews are working to assess the needs for structure protection. As conditions become favorable, crews plan to conduct strategic ignition operations and line construction utilizing natural barriers and the 2018 Wapiti fire area. Smoke may be visible from State Highway 21 please use caution while driving in the area.

Bulltrout Fire: The fire is 92% contained and continues to smolder and creep through unburned areas within the interior of the fire. Firefighters continue patrolling and extinguishing pockets of heat, but dead standing trees are falling within the burn area limiting access.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:

Yesterday a passing weather system brought showers to the area in the morning, along with cooler

temperatures and higher relative humidity. Today moisture will remain in place, keeping afternoon relative humidity elevated and allowing for overnight recovery across all elevations. Afternoon temperatures will remain in the 70s to low 80s, while winds continue to be terrain driven with gusts up to 15 mph. When the sky clears in the afternoon there is a potential for increased fire activity, spreading actively in various directions due to wind and terrain influences. The expected fire activity is group tree torching, short-range spotting and uphill or terrain driven runs.

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 an area closure for the fire (Closure #0402-06-59) effective August 12, 2024. The purpose of this order is to protect public safety during the fires.

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 #0402-05-94) effective August 12, 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 (Closure #0402-05-93) remains in effect for the roads and trails within the perimeter of the fire. Boise National Forest issued this order on August,12, 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/