Single Publication

Wapiti Fire Statistics

• Size: 125,474 acres
• Completion: 72%
• Total Personnel: 478
• 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 Updates: Highway 21 is now open to public traffic. Drivers are urged to exercise caution traveling between Lowman and Stanley. Personnel are working along the highway to continue fire suppression and rehabilitation efforts. Speeds will be reduced to 45 mph. Drive with headlights on. Smoke and occasional flames will be visible from areas where fire is smoldering in heavy downed timber. Rocks and other debris are also likely along the roadway. Traffic control measures and pilot cars may be used, particularly in areas where the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) may be working to replace guardrails. The area closure is still in place, which affects several roads leading from Highway 21. Access is open to Boundary Creek.

Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team #4 took command of the Wapiti and Frog Fires last night.  Multiple fire camp locations are established to support the assigned firefighters and personnel. Highway signs mark these locations to alert drivers to large vehicle traffic entering and exiting the roadways; please drive cautiously.

Weather:  Warmer and drier weather is forecast; however, it should not significantly increase fire activity on the Wapiti or Frog Fires.  Dense morning fog is likely and should lift around 11 AM.

Current Situation:  The Wapiti Fire perimeter has grown minimally in the past 7 days, since significant rain fell in the area. Firefighters continue work to repair fire suppression actions. Smoke will be visible from areas where fire is smoldering in heavy downed timber, and flames may also be seen coming from internal pockets of unburned fuel within the fire’s existing perimeter. Firefighters are actively working in all areas of the fire and will take appropriate actions to limit fire spread.

On the western portion of the fire, repair work is occurring near Lowman and the Sourdough vicinity. Assessment of the debris flows near Grandjean are occurring to determine necessary equipment and work to open the roadways. At this time, there is no estimate when the road will be passable. To the north, the fire is uncontained near Copper Mountain but has not grown since receiving rain and snow earlier in the week. Heavy equipment is working around Stanley Lake and in Iron Creek to remove trees that may fall into roadways or on infrastructure. Fireline built by dozers is being repaired on the eastern side of the fire along the 210 road. On the southern edge, the fire has burned in extremely steep and inaccessible terrain where natural features such as rock screes are limiting fire spread.

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

Evacuation status for Boise County on the Lowman side of the Wapiti Fire has been downgraded to READY (Level 1) in all zones. To sign up for Boise County Alert Sense emergency notifications, enroll online 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 has been reduced but still 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.

Residents and visitors should also be aware of the closure for the Middle Fork Complex, found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices.