Single Publication

Wapiti Fire Statistics

• Size: 125,965 acres
• Completion: 78%
• Total Personnel: 250
• Location: near Grandjean, ID
• Reported: July 24, 2024
• Cause: Lightning

For More Information

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-wapiti-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wapitifireinfo2024

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/WapitiFireInfo2024

Interactive Map:  https://tinyurl.com/WapitiFireInfoMap

Special Emphasis: Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 4 will transition with Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 3 on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 6:00 PM. Team 3 will be the sixth incident management team assigned to the Wapiti Fire. 

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the Stanley Basin is rated yellow/moderate today which indicates acceptable air quality but very sensitive people could be impacted and may want to limit outdoor exposure. There is a Red Flag Warning for most of central and eastern Idaho and increased activity on local as well as surrounding fires may increase smoke in the area. You can check air quality and the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map at https://www.airnow.gov/. 

Collection of firewood within the closure areas is prohibited; any firewood collection in open areas must be done with a valid firewood permit. For questions on firewood collection on the Sawtooth National Forest, please contact the Stanley Ranger Station at 208.774.3000. 

Weather: A Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon to 10:00 PM today, signifying critical weather conditions for strong gusty winds and low relative humidity. We are seeing conditions similar to an early September-like burning environment, with the potential to cause erratic fire behavior and significant growth. On the Wapiti Fire, the forecast winds are 20 to 40 mph with gusts up 60 mph. On the Frog Fire, winds are predicted to be even stronger with gusts over 60 mph possible. The wind event will likely last through Friday evening and into the early morning hours on Saturday. Winds are likely to be strong enough to limit flights by all aircraft on Friday. Residents and visitors should be attentive to any possible changes in conditions from all regional fires.

Current Situation: Increased fire activity is likely today, particularly on the south side of the Wapiti Fire in the Big Meadows area. Due to difficult terrain and access, Big Meadows is in a confinement area where natural barriers like rock screes are used to slow fire spread. Crews will be staged along Highway 21, spread out and ready to respond to any area where it is safe to do so. There are a significant number of fire weakened trees within the fire perimeter and with the predicted winds, crews will be mindful about working directly near any known hazards. Containment lines have been wind tested multiple times already and withstood the adverse weather events; however, today’s winds will be the strongest through the region in several weeks. 

Suppression repair work is almost done, but a few projects remain. One such project is removing large piles of vegetation slash from the 649 Road near Stanley Lake and hauling it to the Elk Meadows gravel pit to be burned when there is significant snow on the ground. The project is anticipated to take up to a week to complete. 

Evacuations: Evacuation status for Stanley Zone 1 is currently at READY. All residents should remain alert for any change in conditions that may reinitiate an evacuation status. Sign up for Custer County CodeRED emergency notifications: text CUSTER to 99411 or enroll at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/BF28E45537FF. Sign up for Boise County Alert Sense emergency notifications at https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/publicUser.aspx?regionid=1163. 

For evacuation information on the Wapiti Fire, please see the Custer County Sheriff’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/p/Custer-County-Sheriff-Idaho-61558947312289/, and the Boise County Sheriff’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/boisecountysheriff/. 

Closures: The Wapiti Fire area closure covers portions of the Sawtooth, Boise, and Salmon-Challis National Forests. Please reference the map and description at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incidentclosures/idbof-wapiti-fire. Recreationalists and hunters should reference this map and obey all posted signage regarding the closure area and any related road, trail, and campground closures. Fire managers and local forest officials are evaluating the current closure area for a reduction in size and scope once it is safe to do so. 

An interactive map for all closures on the Boise National Forest is found at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/642380b0eb124c8cab6bd9ad3d7146ad/page/Overview/# data_s=id%3AdataSource_5-1888bd00a2c-layer-13-1888bd00b53-layer-16%3A82.