Single Publication

Wapiti Fire Statistics

• Size: 125,508 acres
• Completion: 72%
• Total Personnel: 312
• 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: As you head out for the weekend, check the status of roads, trails, and campgrounds for closures and potential traffic restrictions. Please respect all posted signage and obey any traffic control measures in place. Fire crews and heavy equipment will also be traveling the roads and highways. Fire managers and local forest officials are constantly evaluating the closures and will reduce and/or lift them only when conditions are safe enough to allow for public entry. The links below direct you to maps and information to help plan hunting and recreational activities. Collection of firewood within closure areas is also 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. The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team has arrived on the Wapiti Fire to begin assessments of the fire area and develop a plan for emergency stabilization to limit threats and damage from the effects of fire, such as erosion control.

Weather:  Yesterday began with near-record high temperatures. And although it was breezy through the afternoon, fire behavior remained moderate on both the Wapiti and Frog Fires thanks to slightly higher humidity from the cloud cover. Beginning today, temperatures will climb again. The weekend will be unseasonably warm with clear skies expected. The pattern repeats Sunday when higher winds are again predicted, followed by warm and dry conditions.

Current Situation:  Fire activity yesterday on the Wapiti Fire increased earlier in the day due to the warm morning temperatures. The activity was most prominent along the fire perimeter near Bull Trout Lake and Copper Mountain near Cape Horn. Helicopters dropped buckets of water on the flames to support fire crews working on the ground to dig fireline. The fire activity was not of significant concern for substantial growth; it was estimated at up to 5 acres last evening. Fire crews will continue to focus their suppression efforts in these locations through the weekend. Additional fire resources are arriving to support the fire suppression efforts and equipment is being reassigned from the Frog Fire to the Wapiti Fire to support the repair efforts. 

The work to open the road to Grandjean is continuing at a good pace. Fire managers should soon have access to the valley then will evaluate the suppression repair needs and hazards. Fire-weakened trees that could fall on the road, buildings, or other infrastructure may be removed, and more equipment and supplies may be necessary to complete the repair work. Part of the work will also include developing a process and timeline for landowners to safely access their property. 

Evacuations:  Evacuation status for Stanley Zone 1 is currently at READY. Stanley Zones 2 – 5 and Kasino are no longer in an evacuation status. Sign up for Custer County CodeRED emergency notifications:  text CUSTER to 99411 or enroll at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/BF28E45537FF.

All Boise County evacuation levels have been lifted; residents should remain alert for any change in conditions which could reinitiate an evacuation status. 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 National Forests. Please reference the map and description at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/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.

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.