Single Publication

Gusty winds and fire conditions lead to active fire growth 

Daily Update – Tuesday, September 10, 2024       

Acres: 6,140                                                                            

Start Date: 9/2/2024

Location: 9 miles northwest of Fairfield, ID                             

Personnel: 422

Containment: 10%                                                                  

Fuels: Timber, brush, grass, understory

Highlights: A community meeting will be held on Thursday evening to present fire information and provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions. It will be held at the Camas County Senior and Community Center located at 129 West Willow Street in Fairfield at 6:00 pm. 

Operations: Firefighters continue work to secure the Middle Fork and South Fork of Lime Creek. Fire has advanced into the Stewart Creek Fire footprint from 2018, influenced by the southwestern winds in alignment with the terrain. Active heat remains along the northeastern and northwestern flanks, burning through bands of dead and down timber. Aerial observation was difficult due to thick smoke. Helicopter support continues along the northwestern section of the fire today. Hot spots along the Lime Creek drainage will also be addressed and the southern perimeter will be reinforced to protect values at risk. Firefighters continue to scout for potential control features. Additional firefighters will also be available for any new fire starts in the area.

Weather: Today, temperatures will be in the low 80s with afternoon humidity in the 12 to 19 percent range. Southwest winds in the afternoon will gust in the 20 to 25 mph range. A weather pattern is expected to move into the fire area on Wednesday with colder temperatures and chance of precipitation.

Smoke: Smoke may be visible from the Fairfield area, with continuing predicted today. An interactive smoke map located at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest conditions.

Closures: The Sawtooth National Forest has issued an emergency temporary closure of trails and trail segments for the Chimney Fire. The purpose of the closure order is for the protection of firefighters and public during wildfire suppression activities occurring in and around the trails. The full closure order (No. 0414-05-065) and map are available on the Sawtooth National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sawtooth/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes uncrewed aircraft or drones. Flying drones near wildfires is dangerous for pilots and firefighters and can bring wildfire suppression efforts to a halt. Know before you fly. If you fly, we can’t. More information can be found at: https://uas.nifc.gov/. 

More Information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ideix-chimney-fire / 

208-246-8292 / https://www.facebook.com/sawtoothnationalforest / 2024.chimney@firenet.gov / https://www.facebook.com/IdahoDepartmentofLands/