Single Publication

Incident Commander:  Rick Connell, Northern Rockies Team 5

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:  Bull Trout: 271 acres     Wapiti: 3,872 acres

Middle Fork Complex:  Bulldog: 3,089 acres     Nellie: 6,118 acres

Containment:                          Middle Fork Complex: 0%                           Wapiti: 0%     Bull Trout:  92%

Resources on site:      

Middle Fork Complex: 2 hotshot crews; 6 type 2 hand crews; 9 engines; 2 bulldozers; 3 water tenders; 
1 skidgen

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

Bull Trout: 1 engine

Total Personnel:         Middle Fork Complex: 413               Wapiti: 59      Bull Trout: 17   

KEY MESSAGE:

Join us for a Middle Fork Complex, Bull Trout, and Wapiti Fire Community Meeting Saturday, August 17, 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 the Bulldog and Nellie fires.  

On the Bulldog Fire, firefighters continue holding and improving lines and building containment along the southern edge of the fire. Crews are making progress along the west side of the fire, building handline and removing vegetation along FS road #698, to the junction of FS road #698 and FS road #671. Helicopters continue to support the efforts of the crews on the ground by dropping buckets of water to cool the edge of the fire on the southeast side along the Lightning Creek trail. The fire continues to burn to the north and east towards the Rattlesnake (2006) burn area. Fire activity includes backing into large diameter fuels, with occasional tree torching on ridgelines. 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 as crews continue to work to protect private property and structures in the vicinity of Crouch. Smoke may be visible as strategic firing operations are possible today on the north side of the fire as conditions for safe operations improve.

The Nellie Fire is burning in steep terrain with limited access. The fire is burning into the Pioneer Fire (2016) burn area to the east. Firefighters are continuing protect infrastructure; yesterday, they were able to complete the wrapping of the Deadwood Lookout with fire resistant material to protect the structure from radiant heat and embers. 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 continues to slowly burn down the north and northeast side. The fire has reached the South Fork of the Payette River to the northeast, providing firefighters with a safe location to implement suppression tactics. The west side of the fire has moved into more favorable terrain for firefighting activity, which may allow for strategic firing operations. Firefighters will continue to ensure the fire’s edge is secure by patrolling the fire line today looking for and extinguishing heat. Structure protection remains a high priority, and crews continue to maintain and improve water pumping systems for the homes in the area. As the fire slowly backs to the north and east, strategic firing operations are likely today as conditions improve. 

Bull Trout Fire: There has been very little change to the Bull Trout Fire and containment remains at 92%. An engine patrols the fire throughout the day, with an unmanned aerial system (UAS) searching for remaining heat within the fire perimeter. 

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:

Today temperatures in lower elevations will rise into the upper 80’s. Mid-70s are expected for elevations above 4,500 feet and high-mountain temperatures will be in the 60s. The inversion is predicted to lift at approximately 2 pm, giving way to filtered sunshine, which will cause the relative humidity to drop. Light winds from the west/southwest are expected throughout the region today, with variable, slightly higher wind speeds on ridgelines. 

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. 

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/