Single Publication

Location: Near the headwaters of the St. Joe River, 6 miles east of Red Ives and .6 miles northwest of the Heller Creek Campground
Size: 175 acres 
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 0%

Current Status: The Blackburn Fire was caused by lightning and confirmed on August 14th. It is in a designated roadless area and is distant from private land, utilities, and major transportation infrastructure. 

Firefighters will monitor the Blackburn Fire using air and ground resources. Where effective and safe, crews will work to keep the fire from spreading north and east of Forest Service Road 320, where it runs in a horseshoe down to the Heller Creek Campground. Crews will protect isolated values at risk, such as campgrounds, bridges, trails, and other infrastructure, if necessary. 

Firefighters will utilize natural and manmade features to help slow the fire's spread. Doing so will minimize detrimental effects to the area caused by fire suppression activities. These features include FSR 320, the St. Joe River, various fire scars to the west and south, and several prescribed fire units to the north and east in the Blackburn, Heller, and Sherlock Creeks. 

Additionally, fire managers are working with affected outfitters to ensure their safety and continuity of operations to the extent possible. Construction work on FSR 320 will also continue as long as it is safe to do so.

Future updates will be provided as the situation warrants or conditions change.

Closures:  The road closure for FSR 320 due to road construction has been modified. FSR 320 was previously closed Monday-Friday but is now closed seven days a week due to road construction, the Blackburn Fire, and other initial attack activities in the area. The closure is for firefighter and public safety due to the area's narrow road corridor and heavy fire truck and equipment traffic. The Heller Creek Campground is also closed at this time. Every effort is being made to reopen the road and campground for hunting season. There are limited camping opportunities from Heller Creek Campground to Red Ives, and it is not recommended to set up camp in this area in case of fire growth.

Fire Behavior: The fire could grow east and west and make upslope runs in exposed terrain, although it is relatively sheltered from most prevailing winds with a significant ridge system to the west. There is potential for moderate fire growth before a season-ending event. While seasonal conditions such as continued drying and lower live fuel moistures may cause increased fire behavior, shortened day length and good humidity recovery at night may help to moderate it.