Single Publication

A Virtual Community Meeting is Scheduled for September 4, 2022, at 6pm on the Payette National Forest Facebook Page.   
 
A RED FLAG WARNING is issued for the area. Fire crews are expecting it to bring high winds today. In anticipation of severe weather, crews capitalized on yesterday’s more moderate fire behavior to conduct strategic firing operations along much of the eastern edge to control the fire’s spread. By implementing low intensity firing along the forest floor, crews are able to safely reduce the amount of fuels that threaten the eastern communities, while preventing crown fires, and increase confidence that the constructed line will hold should conditions worsen. In addition, crews patrolled and mopped up containment lines along the west and northwest perimeter and scouted for any new hot spots. As fuels continue to dry, firefighters are seeing more heat pop up on the infrared flights.  

Today’s anticipated weather forecast and high fire danger pose concern for fire suppression activities and values at risk. Firefighters are prepared to deal with torching and high probability spot fires. A top priority will be securing the fire edge along French and Campbell creek, building contingency lines, and gridding out for undetected spotting. Willow Creek drainage is also an area of a concern and crews will be ready to engage when opportunities allow. Air support will focus its efforts on bucket drops in the Willow Creek to delay fire growth allowing crews time to safely engage and have a good exit route. Resources will make as much progress as conditions allow however high winds may ground air support. The consumption of unburned interior fuels will continue to produce visible smoke columns. 

Increased traffic is expected in the area due to the Holiday weekend and we ask the public to provide the right of way to fire traffic. Smoke in the area may reduce visibility.

Weather: A continuation of hot and dry conditions will remain across central Idaho. Fire danger has been elevated from Very High to Extreme. Unstable atmospheric conditions will persist through the holiday weekend. Today, winds will come from the southeast in the morning, shifting southwest by afternoon. By late afternoon, anticipate gusts of 30-40 mph on the ridgetops and in the drainages.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: There are no fire restrictions in the area but due to the Red Flag warning it is not advisable to build campfires during the holiday weekend. 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 trying to get individuals back into their homes as soon as possible. God’s Acres residents are in the pre-evacuation stage (Set). Others in the vicinity are encouraged to consider evacuation preparations (Ready). Please visit www.wildlandfirersg.org for information on packing and preparing for evacuations. For more information on evacuations and 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 be allowing 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/.