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It’s been 36 hours since strategic firing operations were completed on the eastern flank of the fire with the objective of protecting the properties along West Mountain Road, and the lines are holding. Mop up operations are ongoing, which include digging up hot stumps and roots, cutting up smoldering logs, applying water where possible, removing hazard trees, and sifting through deep ash beds for heat. Steep, rugged terrain, deep duff, and thick brush create a challenge for crews on the ground, but firefighters have been making progress reducing heat along the fire’s edge. The inversion lifted earlier yesterday than it has over the past few days, allowing helicopters to fly continuously most of the day to deliver bucket drops, primarily in the Willow Creek and Wilson Meadows areas. 

Fire behavior has been moderate, with little growth in acreage over the past few days. Activity on the fire edge has been mostly creeping, backing, and smoldering, allowing crews to attack the fire edge directly in many areas. With the forecast of low wind continuing into tomorrow, firefighters will keep going direct with mop up and containment activities. One of the most challenging areas for firefighters is the southeastern corner in the Willow Creek area, where geographic features make it too difficult for crews to engage head-on. Hand crews are digging a contingency line up the ridge of Collier Peak and down into the Willow Creek drainage in preparation for the possibility that the fire grows to the south. This strategy will help prevent it from hooking back around towards the Campbell Creek community. 
  

Weather: Hot, dry weather is expected to continue today, with smoke lingering in the valley due to atmospheric inversions. Afternoon gusts up to 20mph are forecast, similar to yesterday’s weather. By Thursday, the weather pattern will shift, bringing stronger winds, cooler temperatures, and slightly higher humidity. The chance of precipitation is low. 
 

Fire Restriction: There are currently no fire restrictions in the area, but residents and visitors are encouraged to exercise extreme caution if building campfires. Fire restrictions are determined by interagency guidelines including a “persistence of fire danger” in terms of fuel moisture levels and long term weather forecasts. For more information on local fire restrictions, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/vptsh85r   
 

Air Quality:  Specific information about local smoke levels, forecasts, and possible health impacts is available at https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/cc0ac676/.  
 

Evacuation Information: Valley County Sheriff evacuation orders (Go) are still in place for residents of Campbell Creek and French Creek. The team’s number one priority is to get residents back into their homes as soon as possible. God’s Acres residents are in the pre-evacuation stage (Set). Please visit www.wildlandfirersg.org for evacuation level information. For local support, call the Valley County Sheriff's Office at 208.382.5160. 
 

Closure Information:  Access to hunting unit 32 A near the Fawn Creek area is very limited as the main route in from the west is in the closure area. A security guard is posted at the intersection of Cabarton and Snowbank Road and will not allow individuals through. The complete closure order for the Boise and Payette National Forests – including a full description and an accompanying map – is available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/8331/.