Moose Fire Daily Update for September 29, 2022

At 6:00 pm this evening, we will host a community meeting at 6:00 pm at the Idaho Fish & Game Office located at 99 US Highway 93, Salmon, ID 83467. The meeting will be filmed and posted to the Salmon-Challis National Forest Facebook page for those who prefer to view the meeting virtually. If you cannot attend the meeting in person but would like to submit a question, you can email your question(s) to 2022.moose@firenet.gov before noon today.

Multiple nocturnal heat bursts were experienced, producing 52 miles per hour winds resulting in temperatures from 60-75 degrees. Firefighters will be assessing the fire for any areas of changes in conditions. Although some smoke was visible from Salmon yesterday, fire behavior was minimal. Fuels continue to creep and smolder with isolated torching. Firefighters are identifying and repairing handlines, repairing roads and dozer lines, and continuing to backhaul road closure signs, fire hose, and related support equipment. They are constructing water bars, moving and hauling logging slash, chipping, and scattering slash to prevent water run-off and erosion from fall rain events. 

EVACUATIONS: Evacuation zones 1, 12, 13, and 15 remain in “READY” status. Beartrack Mine and Leesburg also remain in “READY” status. Evacuation status has been rescinded for Zones 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9a, 9b, 10, and 14. The Incident Management Team will continue to work closely with the Sheriff’s Office to consider changes to the evacuation status. Additional details are available at Moose Fire Evacuation Zones

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: A Salmon-Challis National Forest closure order was updated on September 19. It reduces the closure area lands north of Williams Creek and Deep Creek Roads, east of Panther Creek Road, and south of North Fork Ranger District/Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District. The closure includes national forest service lands pertaining to certain roads, trails, and a defined geographic area around the fire. See Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-22-512, for a complete description. This closure applies to hunting access, firewood cutting and gathering, fishing, hiking, camping, and other recreational activities.   -    The temporary closure of Morgan Bar Campground administered by the Salmon Field Office; Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is terminated. This termination applies to all BLM-managed lands in the closure area east of the Fairgrounds/Diamond Creek Road. This partial Closure termination will be in effect starting at 2:00 pm on September 28, 2022 -    Public Lands north of the town of Salmon, south of Wallace Creek, and west of the Fairgrounds/Diamond Creek Road administered by the Salmon Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will remain Temporarily Closed to entry by members of the public. -    Currently, Stage 1 Fire restrictions are in effect on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, BLM, and State of Idaho lands in Custer and Lemhi Counties, excluding wilderness areas. These restrictions will end immediately after midnight (00:01) on Thursday, September 29, 2022.  -    For more information about area hunting units, please visit the Idaho Fish and Game fire map: https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/maps/realtime/fire/ or the Idaho Fish and Game Salmon Region Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/IDFG.salmon.  

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management
Notice of Termination of a portion of the Temporary Closure for Wildfire Suppression Efforts on Public Lands in Lemhi County, ID 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Termination of a portion of the Temporary Closure for Wildfire Suppression Efforts

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the temporary closure of Morgan Bar Campground administered by the Salmon Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is terminated. This termination applies to all BLM managed lands in the closure area east of the Fairgrounds/Diamond Creek Road.

Public Lands north of the town of Salmon, south of Wallace Creek, and west of the Fairgrounds/Diamond Creek Road administered by the Salmon Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will remain Temporarily Closed to entry by members of the public.

DATES: This partial Closure termination will be in effect starting at 2:00pm on September 28, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Price, Salmon Field Manager, (208) 756-5410. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The continued closure affects all Public Lands managed by the BLM north of the town of Salmon, South of Wallace Creek, and west of the Fairgrounds/Diamond Creek Road in Lemhi County, Idaho. The legal description of the affected public lands is T22N R21E and T22N R22E. The Temporary Closure remains necessary to provide protection to visitors given the increased fire behavior of the Moose Fire and the high volume of fire traffic in the area. The closure no longer includes the Morgan Bar Campground.

This closure will be posted at the Salmon Field Office and signs with the closure will be posted on the Leesburg/Powerline, Black Rock, Stormy Peak and Diamond Creek Roads where they enter BLM administered lands.

The following persons are exempt from this order: Federal, state, and local officers and employees in the performance of their official duties; members of organized rescue or fire-fighting forces in the performance of their official duties; and persons with written authorization from the BLM.

Linda R. Price
Field Manager
Salmon Field Office

AUTHORITY: 43 CFR Section 9212.2 

Moose Fire Daily Update for September 28, 2022 

Fire Information: 208-742-6690 daily, 8 a.m -8 p.m

Email: 2022.moose@firenet.gov

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8249/

Twitter & Facebook: @SalmonChallisNF

Acres 130,112

Containment 51%

Personnel 502

We will host a community meeting at the Idaho Fish & Game Office located at 99 US Highway 93, Salmon, ID 83467 on Thursday, September 29th. The start time will be 6:00 p.m. for those who wish to attend. The meeting will be filmed and posted to the Salmon-Challis National Forest Facebook page for those who prefer to view the meeting virtually. If you cannot attend the meeting in person but would like to submit a question, you can email your question(s) to 2022.moose@firenet.gov before Noon on September 29, 2022. 

Yesterday lookouts reported minimal fire behavior with smoldering, creeping, and slow backing in the watershed area with no issues identified. In addition, the area, east of Leesburg, including along the 300 Road and Trapper Ridge has the same fire behavior with the same smoldering and creeping. Crews continue to perform suppression repair work in the Leesburg area.  Resources have been assigned in this area and will begin working west of Leesburg. Heavy equipment is working along the powerline corridor between Ridge Road and Leesburg repairing the skidder road that was used to haul logs up to Ridge Road. Additionally, crews continue to identify areas that need suppression work around the fire. 

EVACUATIONS: Evacuation zones 1, 12, 13, and 15 remain in “READY” status. Beartrack Mine and Leesburg also remain in “READY” status. Evacuation status has been rescinded for Zones 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9a, 9b, 10, and 14. The Incident Management Team will continue to work closely with the Sheriff’s Office to consider changes to the evacuation status. Additional details are available at: Moose Fire Evacuation Zones 

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: A Salmon-Challis National Forest closure order was updated on September 19. It reduces the closure area lands north of Williams Creek and Deep Creek Roads, east of Panther Creek Road, and south of North Fork Ranger District/Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District. The closure includes national forest service lands pertaining to certain roads, trails, and a defined geographic area around the fire. See Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-22-512, for a complete description. This closure applies to hunting access, firewood cutting and gathering, fishing, hiking, camping, and other recreational activities.    

·       Public Lands north of the town of Salmon, south of Wallace Creek, and west of the Salmon River administered by the Salmon Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are temporarily Closed. 

·       Currently, Stage 1 Fire restrictions are in effect on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, BLM, and State of Idaho lands in Custer and Lemhi Counties, excluding wilderness areas. These restrictions will end immediately after midnight (00:01) on Thursday, September 29, 2022. 

·       For more information about area hunting units, please visit the Idaho Fish and Game fire map: https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/maps/realtime/fire/ or the Idaho Fish and Game Salmon Region Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/IDFG.salmon. 

Moose Fire Community Fire Information Meeting (In-Person)

6 p.m. (MT)
September 29, 2022

Idaho Fish and Game Office
99 Highway 93 North
Salmon, Idaho

If you cannot attend and would like to submit a question ahead of time, please email 2022.moose@firenet.gov by noon on Thursday.

Moose Fire Daily Update for September 27, 2022
 

Yesterday September 26, 2022, air resources flew over the fire to assess fire conditions. Air resources are available to engage hot spots and assist fire crew operations when safe to do so. The use of air assets is continually being evaluated by operations and the incident management team.

Fuel removal crews are utilizing heavy equipment to consolidate and relocate existing logs along powerlines to specified locations. Crews continue to remove residual slash created by previous suppression efforts away from containment lines. In addition, fire crews will continue to patrol the roadways along the Salmon River on the northwest flank of the burn area and perform road improvements where needed. Suppression repair is ongoing in numerous areas including along Ridge Road and near Leesburg. Resource Advisors (READs) will continue coordinating with operations personnel and private landowners in the area.

Dry weather will continue today, with moderate temperatures and light winds limiting fire growth. Crews continue to have lookouts in strategic locations.

Due to logging and slash removal in the powerline corridor east of Leesburg, a temporary power outage may occur in the coming days. Idaho Power is closely communicating with the incident management team and will alert affected customers.

EVACUATIONS: Zone 1 has been moved back to “READY” status. Evacuation zones 12, 13, and 15 remain in “READY” status. Beartrack Mine and Leesburg also remain in “READY” status. Evacuation status has been rescinded for Zones 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9a, 9b, 10, and 14. The Incident Management Team will continue to work closely with the Sheriff’s Office to consider changes to the evacuation status. Additional details are available at: Moose Fire Evacuation Zones

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: A Salmon-Challis National Forest closure order was updated on September 19. It reduces the closure area lands north of Williams Creek and Deep Creek Roads, east of Panther Creek Road, and south of North Fork Ranger District/Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District. The closure includes national forest service lands pertaining to certain roads, trails, and a defined geographic area around the fire. See Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-22-512, for a complete description. This closure applies to hunting access, firewood cutting and gathering, fishing, hiking, camping, and other recreational activities.

- Public Lands north of the town of Salmon, south of Wallace Creek, and west of the Salmon River administered by the Salmon Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are temporarily Closed.

- Currently, Stage 1 Fire restrictions are in effect on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, BLM, and State of Idaho lands in Custer and Lemhi Counties, excluding wilderness areas. These restrictions will end immediately after midnight (00:01) on Thursday, September 29, 2022.

- For more information about area hunting units, please visit the Idaho Fish and Game fire map: https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/maps/realtime/fire/ or the Idaho Fish and Game Salmon Region Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/IDFG.salmon.

STAGE I FIRE RESTRICTIONS RESCINDED

Release Date: Sep 26, 2022

Contact(s): Amy Baumer

Interagency fire management officials in east-central Idaho will end Stage 1 fire restrictions, effective at just after midnight (00:01) on Thursday, September 29, 2022.  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 Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness.  That portion of Lemhi County that is not federal land designated as wilderness.

The fire danger across east-central Idaho remains HIGH.  Fire management officials opted to move out of restrictions as the National Forest and surrounding areas have received recent precipitation and the transition into fall has the fire danger indices moving downward.  The fire danger indices are a relative number indicating the severity of wildland fire danger as determined from burning conditions and other variables.

A campfire can be one of the best parts of camping or provide necessary warmth to hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts.  Don’t forget your responsibility to maintain and extinguish your campfire to prevent wildfires.  Fires can start quickly and will burn in vegetation that seems green but is drying out.  Remember, if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave; pour water, add dirt, stir -repeat these steps until your campfire is cold.  One spark is all it takes to start a wildfire, and never leave a campfire unattended.

####

 Forest Service News Release

Media Contact: Amy Baumer (Public Affairs Officer); 208‐756‐7853
SM.FS.scnfinfo@usda.gov;
Web: https://www.fs.usda.gov/scnf/
Twitter: @salmonchallisnf
Facebook: @salmonchallisnf
 
MOOSE FIRE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, SPECIFIC FIRE CAUSE DETERMINED
The Central Idaho Dispatch Zone is at HIGH Fire Danger
CENTRAL IDAHO FIRE RESTRICTIONS AREA IS IN STAGE I FIRE RESTRICTIONS

Salmon, Idaho‐ September 26, 2022— Investigators with the U.S. Forest Service have determined the Moose Fire was caused by an unextinguished and unattended campfire, which spread to adjacent vegetation on the afternoon of July 17th. A wildland fire investigation team comprised of U.S. Forest Service Special Agents and Law Enforcement Officers, aided by local law enforcement, conducted numerous interviews along with forensic processing of the origin area. The incident occurred during a period of high temperatures, low humidity, and winds estimated around 30 miles per hour (MPH). The fire began on a small flat commonly used as a dispersed camping area, across from the Moose Creek drainage, between Salmon River Road and the Main Salmon River, approximately 5.6 miles west of North Fork, Idaho.

The incident took place over a busy weekend on the river corridor and numerous members of the public have provided helpful information to the investigation. Investigators believe the fire may have been left smoldering in a rock fire ring from the previous night. They’re asking for the public’s help in identifying anyone who may have been present at the camping area from the afternoon of Saturday, July 16, to the morning of Sunday, July 17. If you believe you have information pertinent to the start of the fire, please send an email to SM.FS.2022MooseTip@usda.gov. Please include detailed information and contact details if you’re willing to speak with an investigator.

The 2022 fire season in central Idaho has seen numerous large wildland fires, which continue to burn into late‐September. The Salmon‐Challis National Forest would like to remind forest visitors to be careful with all potential sources of wildfire ignition during this period as conditions are predicted to be warm and dry over the extended forecast period.

•  Be mindful of parking vehicles in flammable vegetation and use and disposal of cigarettes.
• Take care to secure items on trailers and truck beds, including chains and other metal objects.
• Always ensure to drown and thoroughly stir campfires prior to departure.

The U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, and Bureau of Land Management in east‐central Idaho are in Stage 1 fire restrictions. Stage 1 fire restrictions apply to federal, state, state endowment, private forestland, and rangelands within the designated area. With everyone’s cooperation, we can get through the remainder of this challenging season without further incident.
 

Lemhi County update 9/26/22 
https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/site-home/news/moose-fire-evacuation-zones-map
 
Moose Creek evacuation status update 09/26/22

Zones 2, 9 and 14 have been rescinded and are no longer in an evacuation status.
Zone 1 has been moved back from “SET” status to “READY” Status

Zone 1- Fairgrounds to Tower creek (on west side of river)
Zone 2- Tower creek to North Fork (both sides of highway)
Zone 9a- Pine creek bridge down to and including Owl Creek
Zone 9b- Owl Creek crossing west to Ebineezer
Zone 14- Trail Creek North to Confluence of Panther Creek




 

Moose Fire Daily Update for September 26, 2022

Today, Monday, September 26, we will host a community meeting at the Idaho Fish & Game Office located at 99 US Highway 93, Salmon, ID 83467. The start time will be 6:00 p.m. for those who wish to attend. The meeting will be filmed and posted to the Salmon-Challis National Forest Facebook page for those who prefer to view the meeting virtually. If you cannot attend the meeting in person but would like to submit a question, you can email your question(s) to 2022.moose@firenet.gov before Noon on September 26, 2022.

Crews will engage hot areas along the fire edge where it is safe to do so. In addition, fire crews will patrol the roadways along the Salmon River on the northwest flank of the burn area and perform road improvements where needed. Suppression repair is ongoing in numerous areas including along Ridge Road and near Leesburg. Resource Advisors (READs) will continue coordinating with operations personnel and private landowners in the area.

Dry weather, moderate temperatures, and light winds should continue moderating fire growth. Crews have completed suppression work in the municipal watershed and are providing fire lookouts in strategic locations. Additionally, firefighters are working to backhaul unneeded equipment and are assisting with suppression repair

Logging slash removal work in the powerline corridor east of Leesburg is ongoing. As a result, a temporary power outage may occur in the coming days. Idaho Power is closely communicating with the incident management team and will alert affected customers.

EVACUATIONS: Zone 1 remains in “SET” status today, while Zones 11, 12, and 13 are stable in “READY” status. Beartrack Mine and Leesburg also remain in “READY” status at this time. As a reminder, the evacuation status has been rescinded for Zones 3, 4, 7, 8, and 10. The Incident Management Team will continue to work closely with the Sheriff’s Office to consider changes to the evacuation status. Additional details are at: https://bit.ly/LemhiCountyEvacs

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: A Salmon-Challis National Forest closure order was updated on September 19. It reduces the closure area lands north of Williams Creek and Deep Creek Roads, east of Panther Creek Road, and south of North Fork Ranger District/Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District. The closure includes national forest service lands pertaining to certain roads, trails, and a defined geographic area around the fire. See Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-22-512, for a complete description. This closure applies to hunting access, firewood cutting and gathering, fishing, hiking, camping, and other recreational activities.  

-      Public Lands north of the town of Salmon, south of Wallace Creek, and west of the Salmon River administered by the Salmon Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are temporarily Closed. 

-         Stage 1 Fire restrictions are in effect on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, BLM, and State of Idaho lands in Custer and Lemhi Counties, excluding wilderness areas. 

-         For more information about area hunting units, please visit the Idaho Fish and Game fire map: https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/maps/realtime/fire/ or the Idaho Fish and Game Salmon Region Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/IDFG.salmon.  

Moose Fire Community Fire Information Meeting (In-Person)
6 p.m. (MT)September 26, 2022Idaho Fish and Game Office99 Highway 93 North Salmon, Idaho
If you cannot attend and would like to submit a question ahead of time, please email 2022.moose@firenet.gov by noon on Monday.