Single Publication

There have been two (2) new fire reported on the Salmon-Challis National Forest since the last update on Monday, September 23, 2024.  To date, there have been 64 wildfires reported on the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  53 of the fires have been declared out.

Mowitch (September 29): is approximately three (3) miles north of Indian Creek on the Middle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 30 acre fire is burning in grass, brush, spruce, fir, and ponderosa pine.

Baker (September 23): is approximately 30 miles southwest of Challis on the Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District in the Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness. The 0.10 acre fire burning in timber litter and duff is out.

Endoah (September 19): is approximately 40 miles northwest of Stanley on the Middle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 0.10 acre fire burning in brush, spruce, and fir is out.

Ebenezer (September 15): is approximately 27 miles west of North Fork on the North Fork Ranger District.  The 0.10 acre fire burning in a down log is out.

Nugget (September 13): is located approximately 40 miles west of Salmon on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 986 acre fire is burning in fir.  The fire is surrounded by and in fire scars from 2005, 2013, and 2015.  Fire managers are recommending the public do not enter the Nugget and Cradle Creek drainages.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-nugget-fire.

Cougar (September 11): s located approximately three (3) miles south of the Garden Fire on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 12 acres fire burning in grass and brush is out.

Garden (September 8):  is located approximately two (2) miles southwest of the confluence of Panther Creek and the Main Salmon River on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The fire is approximately 1839 acres burning in grass, brush, and timber.  Visitors using the Garden Creek or Clear Creek trails are encouraged to #KnowBeforeYouGo and to be aware of the fire activity in the area.  Trailheads will be posted with fire information.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-garden-fire.

Vanity (September 3): is located approximately 42 miles west of Challis on the Middle Fork Ranger District.  The approximately 600 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir and is surrounded by the 2012 Halstead 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. Specific values potentially threatened with this fire include Forest Service infrastructure.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-vanity.

Red Rock (September 2):  is located approximately two (2) miles east of Yellowjacket Guard Station on the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District.  A Type III Incident Management Team is managing the fire and information is being reported separately.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-red-rock-fire.  

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 2,671 acres burning in spruce and fir.  The Bitterroot National Forest is lead on this fire.

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 3,110 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir.  The fire is surrounded by the 2022 Norton Fire and fire scars from the fires of 2000.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-birch-fire.

Greyhound (August 11): is located approximately 46 miles northwest of Challis on the Middle Fork Ranger District.  The 97 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir and lodgepole pine on the edge of the 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.

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 fire is burning in lodgepole and subalpine fir.  A Type III Incident Management Team is managing the fire and information is being reported separately.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-black-eagle-fire.

Wapiti (July 24):  started on the Boise National Forest, burned onto the Sawtooth National, and around August 24th burned onto the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  A Complex Incident Management Team is managing the fire.  Information can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-wapiti-fire.

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.  The 54 acre fire, burning in grass and conifers, is out.

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 controlled, fire size is estimated to be 2,474 acres and is burning in timber, sagebrush, and grass.

Weather:  A few spots could see gusts to 20 mph this morning. Otherwise, lighter winds will arrive today. Marginally critical humidity and winds are possible Wednesday. Gusts of 20 to 25 mph are possible Wednesday. Dry weather is likely until the weekend.

The forest is asking visitors to be aware of the MODERATE fire danger for the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  Ensure your campfire is dead out. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave! One Less Spark Means One Less Wildfire.  Since June 1, Forest employees have found and extinguished at least 13 abandoned campfires.

Nationally, there are 30 uncontained large fires being managed under a full suppression strategy and 9 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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