Single Publication

There have been two (2) new fires reported on the Salmon-Challis National Forest since the last update on Monday, August 19, 2024.  To date, there have been 39 wildfires reported on the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  31 of the fires have been declared out.

Reynolds (August 22):  is located approximately 21 miles northwest of Indianola, approximately 5.5 miles northwest of Horse Creek Hot Springs Campground on the Idaho/Montana border.  Fire is estimated to be approximately 18 acres burning in spruce and fir.  The Bitterroot National Forest is lead on this fire.

Norton (August 20): is located approximately three (3) miles north of Lower Loon Creek Airstrip on the Middle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 0.10 acre fire burning in grass and a single Douglas fir is out.

Goldbug (August 18): is located approximately 16 miles south of Salmon on the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District.  The 0.30 acre fire burning in short grass and timber is out.

Birch (August 17):  is located on the west side of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River on Norton Ridge on the Middle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 13 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir.  The fire is surrounded by the 2022 Norton Fire and fire scars from the fires of 2000.

Hammer (August 16): is located approximately four (4) miles east of North Fork between Wagonhammer and Little Fourth of July Creeks on the North Fork Ranger District.  The fire is estimated at 8 acres in size.  The fire is 100% contained and controlled.

Sugarloaf (August 16): is located approximately 34 miles west of Salmon on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 0.25 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir.  No smoke was observed on the last flight over the fire area.

Greyhound (August 11): is located approximately 46 miles northwest of Challis on the Middle Fork Ranger District.  The 18 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir and lodgepole pine.  The fire is backing down until Sulphur Creek at the edge 2021 Boundary Creek Fire.  Firefighter and public safety is the number one priority for the Greyhound Fire.  During initial size up for the fire, several safety concerns were identified including: the remote location of the fire, steep and inaccessible terrain, heavy dead and down fuels with a substantial snag component, private property and associated mining infrastructure, and lack of safe ingress and egress for firefighters.  Fire managers will be monitoring the fire with reconnaissance flights and lookouts.  NFS Road #011 is a one way in, one way out roadway.  There is potential for this road to be closed in the future for public safety if there is a change in fire activity. 

Black Eagle (August 5): is located approximately 12 miles west of Forney on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 100 acre fire is burning in lodgepole and subalpine fir.  The fire is creeping and smoldering and is being monitored by aircraft and lookouts.

Pony (August 3): The fire is located approximately nine (9) miles west of Salmon on the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District burning in lodgepole pine is out at approximately 10 acres.

Deer (July 25): The lightning fire is located approximately 33 miles northwest of Challis, southeast of Pinyon Peak on the Middle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  Loon Creek Guard Station is east of the fire.  The fire, burning in grass and conifers is estimated at approximately 54 acres.  The fire is burning on both side of Rabbit Creek, in the 2006 Trail Creek Fire.  Fire managers are using a point protection strategy (a wildfire response strategy, which protects specific assets or highly valued resources from the wildfire without directly halting the continued spread of the wildfire) to minimize exposure to fire personnel while protecting identified values. The strategy takes into account exposure to firefighters, values at risk, and wilderness values. Specific values potentially threatened with this fire include private land and Forest Service infrastructure. 

Thunder (July 24): The lightning fire is located approximately two (2) miles northwest of Williams Lake and approximately 12 miles southwest of Salmon.  The fire is 100% contained and estimated to be 2,474 acres in size and is burning in timber, sagebrush, and grass.

Thunder (July 24): The lightning fire is located approximately two (2) miles northwest of Williams Lake and approximately 12 miles southwest of Salmon.  The fire is 100% contained and estimated to be 2,474 acres in size and is burning in timber, sagebrush, and grass.

Weather:  Drier conditions are forecast today and Tuesday as a weak ridge of high pressure builds into the region. Temperatures warm slightly as well. The next system arrives early Wednesday with passage of a dry cold front. Expect winds to increase late Tuesday through Thursday in association with this feature.

The forest is asking visitors to be aware of the VERY HIGH fire danger for the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  The U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, and Bureau of Land Management in east-central Idaho are in Stage 1 fire restrictions.  The Central Idaho Fire Restrictions Area encompasses those portions of Custer County that are north and east of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (excluding the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness) and that portion of Lemhi County that is not federal land designated as wilderness.  One Less Spark Means One Less Wildfire.  Since June 1, Forest employees have found and extinguished at least 13 abandoned campfires.

Nationally, there are 54 uncontained large fires being managed under a full suppression strategy and 16 large fires managed under a strategy other than full suppression.

Visit our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/scnf/, ‘Like Us’ on Facebook @salmonchallisnf, and ‘Follow Us’ on X @salmonchallisnf. 

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