Single Publication

Middle Fork Complex Fire Update  

September 18, 2024 

Community Meeting Tonight  

There will be a community meeting today at 6 p.m. at the White Barn Building, near 85 Severance Road, Garden Valley.  

Today, Great Basin Incident Management Team 2 transitioned with Great Basin IMT 5 and Rocky Mountain IMT 3, assuming management of the Middle Fork fires, Nellie and Bulldog, and the West Mountain fires, Snag and Goat. Transition is a dynamic process involving critical coordination between all organizational functions within the team. The complexity involved with this transition is more involved because the team is now supporting four fire camps. The safety of firefighters, responders and the public remains the highest priority.   

Fall temperatures continue to support the reduction in fire behavior. Air quality and smoke outlooks have continued to improve, allowing relief for the surrounding communities and businesses. Beyond the added moisture the increase in cloud cover will continue to moderate areas that are still holding heat. These affects will diminish toward the end of the week as sunny days return and radiant heat will rebuild. 

The Middle Fork Complex is 61,482 acres with 32% completion.  

Yesterday thunderstorms continued to persist in the area through the evening across the fire between half an inch to an inch of rain. Debris slides continued to occur on the forest roads, including the 678 and 555 roads.  Due to ongoing weather, more debris slides are likely throughout the burn area and crews must wait until conditions improve and roadways dry to begin assessing and repairing roads.  

Fire activity remained minimal yesterday and some small growth was seen in the fire area in the afternoon as temperatures began to rise, fuels dried, and winds increased ahead of the storms. After the storms arrived, fire activity decreased and is expected to remain low in the coming days. The fire continues to smolder and creep through the heavy fuels in areas that are protected from the rain. 

Snag Fire is 33,300 acres with 33% completion.  

Warm Lake Road is open to the public, but the Forest Service 409 (Clear Creek Road) Road extending south into the fire area from the Warm Lake Road remains closed. Please drive with caution as firefighters are still working and patrolling in this area. There continues to be heat at the north end of Warm Lake Road; approximately 500 feet in from the fire’s perimeter. Rehabilitation and suppression repair continues along the Warm Lake Road in conjunction with guidance from Resource Advisors. 

Goat Fire is 26,456 acres with 0% contained. 

Crews have successfully constructed fireline along the northwestern edge of the Goat Fire, from the gap between the Goat and the Snag, running to the Forest Service boundary, continuing around to the 099 Trail. Today crews will assess the area from the past two days rain.  Firefighters will continue to work with Resource Advisors on suppression repair activities, in addition to the removal of hazard trees.  

Boise National Forest Closure Order Number 0402-06-64 remains in effect. An interactive forest closure map is available on the Boise National Forest Alerts & Closures website, https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices. 

Hunters are not allowed access to these closed areas. The Boise National Forest is re-evaluating closure orders across the forest due to firefighting progress and recent precipitation. The public can expect to see changes later this week.  

In the meantime, we ask the public to adhere to the closures as they currently exist; in particular Trail Creek Hot Springs is currently within the closure area for the West Mountain Complex and is closed. 

Highway 21 is closed from the Sourdough Lodge in Lowman to Stanley Lake Road (MP 84 to 126) due to nearby wildfire activity. Only local traffic is allowed between the Sourdough Lodge and Warm Springs Airstrip. There is no public access from the highway to surrounding areas including Grandjean, Bull Trout, Boundary Creek, Cape Horn, or Seafoam. For more information, visit the Idaho Department of Transportation website, https://511.idaho.gov/ 

Fire Restrictions: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions have been rescinded for the Boise National Forest.  For more information on the restrictions visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices. 

Take wildfire risk reduction steps to make your home safer during a wildfire: Visit the Firewise website for information: https://www.nfpa.org/en/Education-and-Research/Wildfire/Preparing-homes-for-wildfire 

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area.  Visit Know Before You Fly, http://knowbeforeyoufly.org. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect in the fire area. 

Middle Fork Fire Information: 208-992-3045 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.) Email: 2024.middleforkcomplex@firenet.gov  

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-middle-fork-complex-fire-bulldog-and-nellie 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/people/Middle-Fork-Complex-Fire-Boise-National-Forest/61565022204468 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@2024.middleforkcomplex