Single Publication

Attached is today's map (find more detailed maps on Inciweb), update (also see full text below), and smoke report for the Middle Fork Complex, Wapiti, and Bull Trout Fires. Closure orders and maps for the fire areas can be found on the Boise National Forest’s Alerts and Notices webpage as well as on Inciweb. 

Incident Commander:  Rick Connell, Northern Rockies Team 5
Location: 

• Middle Fork Complex Location: 9 miles east of Garden Valley, ID
• Bull Trout 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:  Infrared mapping services were unable to fly over the fire area last night so acres will be updated when possible.

• Middle Fork Complex: 31,087
• Bull Trout: 271 acres                        
• Wapiti: 17,520           
• Bulldog: 5,801            
• Nellie: 25,286

Containment:  

• Middle Fork Complex: 5%    
• Bull Trout:  92%
• Wapiti: 10%     

Resources on site:      

• Middle Fork Complex: 1 hot shot crew; 9 type 2 hand crews; 14 engines; 2 water tenders; 1 bulldozer, 1 feller-buncher
• Bull Trout: none
• Wapiti: 5 hot shot crews; 2 type 2 hand crews; 19 engines; 2 water tenders; 1 skidgen, 1 bulldozer

Total Personnel:         

• Middle Fork Complex: 468              
• Bull Trout: 0
• Wapiti: 258  

KEY MESSAGE: 

On the Nellie Fire, the Boise County Sheriff’s Office has issued a stage 1 (“Ready”) evacuation notice for the area from Danskin station west to Grimes Pass along highway 17, for both sides of the highway and both sides of the South Fork of the Payette River.

Wapiti Fire has been moving North toward the Stanley Lake area. For residents in the Stanley Lake and HWY 75 area, please utilize your local Custer County notification system and follow instructions of emergency responders. Currently zone 1 is in “set” and zone 2 is in “ready” please visit Custer County Sheriff’s Facebook page for a map of the zones. Custer county ready set go, Red Alert system – Custer County Text CUSTER to 99411 to enroll in CodeRED (click here) or enroll online at https: /public.coderedweb.com/CNE/BF28E45537FF to Receive updates through Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) set your phones to receive Alerts by going into settings and then Notifications and turning on your Emergency Alerts. Custer County Sheriff's Facebook Page Link (click on for updates and Important Information)

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning today for hot and very dry condition along with gusty south winds. Conditions will be similar to last Saturday and the inversions will lift around 1-2pm creating active fire behavior and potential for large fire growth.

The Middle Fork Complex and Wapiti Fire will be transitioning separate incident management teams in the next couple days. Great Basin Team 3 will assume command of the Middlefork Complex (Bulldog and Nellie Fires) Friday morning at 6 am and Rocky Mountain Team 1 will assume command of the Wapiti Fire on Sunday at 6 am.

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS:

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

The Bulldog Fire has seen minimal growth and crews continue to work along FS road 698 holding the fire along the east edge of the fire. The Silver creek area has been assessed and strategies are in place for firefighters to protect infrastructure to the north of the fire. On the south end of the fire, containment lines are holding, and firefighters continue to search for and extinguish hot spots. Fire is expected to spread more rapidly through the Rattlesnake fire area along ridgelines today. The public is reminded that the Middlefork Road (FS Road 698) is closed at the Forest Service boundary just north of Lightning Creek and the Scriver Creek Road (FS Road 693) is also closed at the Forest Service Boundary for firefighter and public safety as crews continue to work to protect private property and structures in the vicinity of Crouch.

On the Nellie Fire, aircraft, crews and heavy equipment were utilized yesterday to limit the spread to the south along the fuel change from timber to grass and shrubs. Overnight, embers ignited a spot to the south of the fire, along Highway 17, however the highway is open at this time. Firefighters worked late into the night in the Danskin area and will be working 24 hours a day to protect values and infrastructure. Crews, heavy equipment and aircraft will be working along the highway today and congestion is expected, please drive safely. On the north side of Nellie firefighters installed pumps, hoses, and sprinklers near infrastructure. Additionally, fuels reduction was completed to improve defensible space around structures in and around the wildland urban interface. The fire continues to grow to the north between the historic Pioneer Fire area and the Rattlesnake fire area. 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 has been actively growing due to weather conditions. It continues to move to the north along Elk Creek drainage, west across Highway 21 at the Emile Grandjean Overlook (mile marker 95), and to the east.  North of the fire, terrain driven winds and heavy fuels consisting of timber and dead standing timber will create active fire behavior. Crews and heavy equipment are working on fuels reduction and defensible space around the structures in and around the wildland urban interface. West of the fire, in the Hanging Valley area, firefighters have completed fuels reduction and strategically placed pumps, hoses and sprinkler systems. Due to fire activity overnight, the Grandjean road and Highway 21 have been impacted by rolling debris that obstruct access to some areas. Fire managers are working with Idaho Department of Transportation to remove the debris and provide access for firefighters. Highway 21 remains closed from MP92 to MP107.

Bull Trout Fire: The Bull Trout fire is still 92% contained, with very little change in the past few days. Today an infrared flight is planned to check for pockets of heat.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:

Red Flag warning in effect for critical fire weather today and tomorrow, ahead of a cold front moving into the area. Elements of extreme fire behavior are expected today, and south winds with hot dry conditions will cause large fire growth over the fire areas. Southerly winds will increase by early afternoon along upper ridge lines and along wind aligned drainages. Winds will remain elevated well into the evening with marginal relative humidity recovery tonight.  Sheltered areas can expect variable and erratic winds at times as these southerly winds battle the terrain driven flow. Temperatures will be 8-10 degrees warmer than yesterday. Under previously similar conditions, fire spread rapidly to the north with spotting along wind aligned drainages. Spotting potential is up to 2 miles.  Group torching is expected with terrain influenced fire spread. Thermal belts of warm air will be present overnight tonight which allows fires to actively burn until late into the evening.

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.

Bull Trout 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. The Boise National Forest issued this order on August,12, 2024. It will be rescinded as soon as it is safe to do so.

The Boise County Sheriff’s Office has issued a stage 1 (“Ready”) evacuation notice for the area from Danskin station west to Grimes Pass along highway 17, for both sides of the highway and both sides of the south fork of the Payette River. The Boise County Sheriff’s Office has issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Danskin area north of Highway 17 and the community of Hanging Valley due to the Highway 21 closure.

Evacuation information will be posted on the Boise County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. For closure information, please visit Boise National Forest’s website – Alerts & Closures. Smoke will be visible and could impact roadways today, please follow the instructions of emergency responders and drive safely.

Closure information and maps are posted on the Forest’s 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/