Single Publication

Wapiti Fire Statistics:

Size: 125,429 acres

Containment: 12%

Total Personnel: 1,325

Location: Grandjean, ID

Reported: July 24, 2024

Cause: Lightning

For More Information:

Information Phone: 208-593-7132

Email: 2024.wapiti@firenet.gov

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 Notes: State Highway 21 remains closed east of Lowman to Stanley from MP84 (Sourdough Lodge) to MP126 (Stanley Lake turnoff) due to wildfire activity. Highway 75 remains open. The Frog Fire on the Sawtooth National Forest is putting up significant smoke visible from Stanley. Currently this fire is being managed by the Sawtooth National Forest with resources on loan from the Wapiti Fire. For the most up to date information on the Frog Fire, visit: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idstf-frog.

Current Situation: The next few days will bring a strong weather system through the area. Ahead of the precipitation there will be critical fire weather and an uptick in fire activity. Aerial resources are identifying heat zones across the fire ahead of these strong winds.  A significant amount of precipitation is expected to fall over the Wapiti Fire. Although this rainfall will not extinguish the fire, it is expected to moderate fire behavior and increase the moisture levels of burnable fuels. Despite this change in weather, crews will continue to staff the fire day and night to meet incident objectives.  Firefighter and public safety remain the highest priority in all management decisions.

Division DD:  An indirect dozer line and fuel break has been completed from Iron Creek all the way down to the 2014 Gold Fire burn scar. This will serve as the holding feature if the fire moves out of the Sawtooth Wilderness. Currently, the fire is holding in the creek drainages and at the rock scree above the tree line. This area of the fire is being flown daily to monitor for any hotspots or movement out of the drainages.

Division HH:  Crews remain in place patrolling the community of Stanley. All the line around Iron Creek is holding. Aviation resources have been flying this division daily to look for hotspots.

Division KK and Structure Group East: Structure protection is in place and crews continue to monitor the communities and ensure there is no fire progression. Crews are mopping up any hotspots and monitoring the area. Fire behavior increased yesterday, and vegetation was more receptive to fire and burned in the interior of the perimeter.

Divisions PP & MM:  Today, crews have completed firing operations in this area and are working to secure the fire perimeter. They continue to monitor the area and mop up hotspots. Unmanned Ariel Systems (UAS) were used to detect any heat in the area and assist with mop up.

Division WW and Structure Group West: Structure protection in upper and middle Lowman, including the Sourdough, Ten Ax and Two Ravens subdivisions are completed.  Yesterday, the Warm springs area had active fire behavior on the Eight Mile Ridge where fire is backing down towards the Warm Springs Guard Station. Aircraft are being utilized for bucket drops to cool hot spots in the area. Plans are in place in case conditions change or fire behavior increases. Unmanned Ariel Systems (UAS) were utilized to detect heat in the area.

Division VV: Fire in this division is burning partially within the Sawtooth Wilderness and is unstaffed due to the lack of road access and low potential for fire spread. It is being flow daily to monitor any fire progression.

Weather, Fuels, and Fire Behavior: There is a Red Flag Warning in place for today from noon till 2pm. Ahead of the storm, winds may gust up to 60mph which could cause an increase in fire behavior.  The next storm system will arrive around 4pm, causing an acute drop in temperatures, with increasing thunderstorms, and possible hail and rain up to ¾ of an inch. A steady rain will persist throughout the day on Thursday. With this significant amount of rainfall, there is a risk of debris flows off the burned area that could inhibit the passage of fire crews through the Highway 21 corridor.

Evacuations: 

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

To sign up for Custer County CodeRED emergency notifications, text CUSTER to 99411 or enroll online at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/BF28E45537FF . 

To sign up for Boise County Alert Sense emergency notification enroll online at https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/publicUser.aspx?regionid=1163 

Closures and Fire Restrictions:

State Highway 21 remains closed from MP84 to MP126 for public and firefighter safety.

A Wapiti Fire Area Closure / Forest Order: 0414-04-151 for portions of the Boise, Sawtooth, and Salmon-Challis National Forests can be found at this site:  https:/www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sawtooth/alerts-notices

Boise National Forest Stage 1 Fire Restrictions / Forest Order: 0402-00-63 can be found at this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices. 

Sawtooth National Forest Stage 1 Fire Restrictions / Forest Order 0414-00-044 can be found at this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sawtooth/alerts-notices

Fire restrictions on federal, state, and private lands may be found at this site: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/.

Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Wapiti Fire. Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.