Single Publication

HighlightsYesterday afternoon’s cold front brought winds with gusts above 40 mph and humidity as low as 8% on portions of the fire. Fire activity and smoke increased significantly in several parts of the uncontained portions of the fire and also in interior pockets of unburned fuels; including in the Upper Beaver, Bridger, Arnett, Daly, and Hot Springs Creek areas. Crews and a helicopter quickly contained several small spot fires within the main containment line.Today firefighters will continue to work in active areas of the fire using both direct and indirect tactics with hand crews, heavy equipment, and chippers. Personnel will also continue fuel reduction work under the power transmission line serving area mines. This work will be ongoing for the next several days. In less active portions of the fire, crews and engines will patrol, backhaul unneeded equipment, and begin implementing suppression repair work. Helicopters are available to assist ground personnel as needed.Highway 93, Salmon River Rd (NF-030), and Panther Creek Rd (NF-055) are open. Travelers on all area roads should remain alert for firefighters and fire equipment working in the area, and for possible rockfalls. Temporary, short-duration traffic delays are possible.Firewood will be available for public cutting along Baldy Mtn Rod and Perreau Creek Road while Ridge Road remains closed due to ingress-egress issues. North of Salmon near Gibbonsville, the Anderson Mtn Road will also be open for public cutting. A permit and load tickets are required. Information is available at Salmon-Challis NF offices.Great Basin Incident Management Team 5 will take over command of the Moose Fire on Monday, August 29, at 6:00 am. Northern Rockies Team 2 appreciates the opportunity to have served local citizens and area visitors for the past two weeks, especially the excellent working relationships with many local and state agency cooperators.

WEATHER and FIRE BEHAVIOR: Winds today will be 10-15 mph, much reduced from Saturday. Temperatures will range from 65-75 on ridgetops to 80-90 in lower elevations. Humidity may drop below 20 percent. Dry and increasingly hot weather is expected over the next several days.

EVACUATIONS: The status of all evacuation zones has been reduced to “READY” by the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office. Current information is on the Sheriff’s Office website: https://bit.ly/LemhiCountyEvacs

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: A Salmon-Challis National Forest closure order remains in effect for certain roads, trails, and a defined geographic area around the fire. The Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure; Order #04-13-22-507; was issued August 17.

INCIDENT STATISTICS
Size: 96,821 acres
Containment: 44 %
Start Date: July 17, 2022
Total Personnel: 757Cause: Human caused, under investigation
Resources: 12 crews, 6 helicopters, 31 engines and 37 pieces of heavy equipment.