Single Publication

Fire Statistics

• Size: 125,429 acres
• Containment: 13%
• Total Personnel: 1,138
• Location: Grandjean, ID
• Reported: July 24, 2024
• Cause: Lightning

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 and potential hazards caused by rainfall within the burn area. The Idaho Transportation Department is assessing the condition of the highway twice daily and engaging in cleanup and repair as needed, including replacement of guardrails. Highway 75 remains open.

Current Situation: Crews continue to provide protection to values at risk across the incident with a special focus on Lowman for potential fire activity. Resources are engaging directly with the fire in geographical locations where they have a reasonable probability of success. On Thursday, crews focused on reinforcing containment lines and extinguishing hot spots along the fire’s perimeter. Continued cold and damp weather are helping hold existing fire lines. Air operations are expected to resume Friday afternoon once weather conditions improve. Some resources are being reassigned to the Frog Fire.

Incident Managers and Agency Administrators from the Forest Service and Idaho Department of Lands continue to meet daily to evaluate firefighting efforts and incident goals and objectives.

Division KK (Structure Group East) and HH: Some additional containment was achieved above Iron Creek. After today, the structure protection group will shift their focus to suppression repair. Suppression repair is the phase of fire suppression where resources try to repair disturbance caused by efforts during initial and extended attack on the fire. This group will begin to assess areas needing repair on both private and public lands throughout the fire area.

Division DD: The fire continues to hold within the creek drainages and at the rock scree above the tree line in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Reconnaissance flights for hotspots and fire progression will resume when cloud cover lifts and favorable flying conditions return.

Divisions MM and PP: Fire lines are holding around Cape Horn. Crews are actively monitoring fire activity to ensure the fire does not cross Highway 21 to the north and east.

Division WW and Structure Group West: Resources continue to patrol and keep watch around the Warm Spring Guard Station and 8-Mile Ridge for fire progression that could compromise contingency lines. Crews continue to prepare structures and other infrastructure in and around Lowman.

Division VV: Low temperatures and precipitation have contributed to limited fire activity. Fire lines are holding at Chapman Creek.

Weather, Fuels, and Fire Behavior: The wind event Wednesday had limited effect on fire growth. Cold temperatures overnight combined with recent moisture will result in fog and low clouds Friday morning with clearing expected before noon. Expect daytime temperatures in the high 40s to low 60s. Winds will be 20-25mph coming out of the west south-west on the ridgetops. As conditions continue to dry out expect to see an increase in fire behavior ahead of the next round of moisture expected early next week.

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:

The Middle Fork Complex Fire Closure Order has been amended to provide consistency with the Wapiti Fire Closure. This amended order, Forest Order #0402-06-64, closes the 582 and 563 roads, as well as the 579 road from its junction with 563 eastward to the junction with Highway 21. More information can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices

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.