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A fire weather watch has been issued for today due to forecasted lightning

Daily Update – Wednesday, September 11, 2024       

Acres: 6,475                                                                                                

Start Date: 9/2/2024

Location: 9 miles northwest of Fairfield, ID                              

Personnel: 428

Containment: 10%                                                                   

Fuels: Timber, brush, grass, understory

Highlights: Firefighters are preparing for changing weather as red flag conditions transition into possible thunderstorms and much cooler temperatures this evening.

Operations: Minimal fire behavior was reported at lower elevations of the fire on Tuesday due to the suppression efforts and additional work that occurred along the Lime Creek drainage near the southern boundary of the fire. In the upper elevations along the northeastern perimeter, low to moderate fire behavior was observed due to the fire reaching natural barriers. Forecasted weather is expected to moderate fire behavior today. Crews continue to scout for access and potential containment lines in the northwestern portion of the fire. Initial attack crews are fully staffed for any new fire starts.

Weather: A Red Flag Warning has been issued for scattered dry thunderstorms and dry lightning starting at 1200 Wednesday. Afternoon high temperatures may struggle to reach the 70s with fluctuating humidity in the 30 to 40 percent range. Winds will shift from the southeast to the west during the day with gusts up to 24 mph. Rain and wind are expected to intensify Wednesday night. 

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/