LEVEL 1 "GET READY" EVACUATION ALERT - OROGRANDE

The Idaho County Sheriff's Office has issued a LEVEL 1 - "GET READY" evacuation alert for the community of Orogrande due to the Williams Creek Fire. Deputies are en route to Orogrande to connect with community members and inform them of this notice.

Please follow the Idaho County Sheriff's Office for updates and follow the instruction of law enforcement officers in Orogrande.

As of this morning, the Williams Creek Fire was reported at approximately 1,200 acres. High winds this afternoon have increased fire activity and prompted this evacuation notice.

Several active fires on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests grew significantly over the last few days. A return to warmer daytime and overnight temperatures, combined with consistent winds, has created a recipe for some fires to grow faster than Initial Attack efforts could suppress them. This will result in some access impacts on the forest as closures are put in place for public safety and fire managers develop strategies to look at longer-term planning for these incidents.

The Williams Creek Fire is located five miles West of Orogrande, ID in the Gospel Hump Wilderness. Fire size is approximately 626 acres with increased fire activity. Fire managers expect potential impacts to some roads and trails in the immediate fire area. Closure information will be available at http://bit.ly/NPCFireInfo and at your local ranger stations as soon as closures are finalized.

The Williams Creek Fire near Wildhorse Lake on the Red River District offered a very difficult initial response for firefighters due to heavy fuel loadings and difficult access options in the area. 

“District firefighters, smokejumpers, helitack personnel, and a combination of retardant tankers and helicopters hit the fire very hard immediately after detection on the afternoon of August 29,” said Fire Information Specialist Jim Wimer. “The fire was about 50 acres when aircraft had to shutdown for the day, and the fire continued to burn actively through the night, despite the best efforts of firefighters during initial attack. This has made it unsafe for firefighters on the ground to continue engaging the fire with the same strategy.” 

The nearest community to the Williams Creek Fire is Orogrande.

“The community of Orogrande has taken the initiative to move forward with fuels treatments and hazard reduction work in conjunction with the Forest Service in recent years. This has helped to create more options for firefighters to safely engage wildfires and protect the community from events just like this,” said Marty Mitzkus, Acting Forest Supervisor for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. “Firefighters on the ground and in the air at the Williams Creek Fire gave it everything they could to stop this fire that first day, but simply came up against too much dead and down fuels, and the fire outpaced them. Now, for their safety and the safety of the community of Orogrande, our efforts will be focused on the areas closer to the community where prior fuels treatments will give firefighters a better chance of success.”

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests fire information is available online at https://bit.ly/NPCFireInfo, on social media at www.facebook.com/NPClwNFs and www.twitter.com/NPClwNFs, on the forest’s official mobile app (search “Nez Perce Clearwater” in your app store), or by calling your local ranger station. Report all wildfires to the Grangeville Interagency Dispatch Center (208-983-6800) or call 911.

Deep Creek Fire Update
9-5-2022

On Wednesday, August 31 a new fire was reported south of Great Falls, MT in the northwest corner of the Little Belt Mountains. Fire personnel have been successful at obtaining 70% containment on the #DeepCreekFire. The fire is estimated to be 37 acres. Fire personnel continue to strengthen control lines around the fire perimeter. Red flag conditions are in effect through this evening until 9:00 pm due to high temperatures and low Relative Humidity (RH) levels.
 
An area closure is in place to help protect fire personnel and the public. The area closure includes Deep Creek Trail #309, Temple Gulch Trail #308, Trail #311, and Trail #303. The closure will be in effect until September 30, unless rescinded earlier.

Visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8371/ for the latest information on the Deep Creek Fire and to find a copy of the closure order and map.

Deep Creek Fire Update
9-3-2022

On Wednesday, August 31 a new fire was reported south of Great Falls, MT in the northwest corner of the Little Belt Mountains. Fire personnel have been successful at obtaining 60% containment on the #DeepCreekFire. The fire is still estimated to be 73 acres. Today fire personnel will continue to strengthen the control line on the West flank and seek opportunities to safely build line using existing features and natural barriers where appropriate. Red flag conditions are in effect until noon tomorrow due to high temperatures and low Relative Humidity (RH) levels.
 
An area closure is in place to help protect fire personnel and the public. The area closure includes Deep Creek Trail #309, Temple Gulch Trail #308, Trail #311, and Trail #303. The closure will be in effect until September 30, unless rescinded earlier.

Visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8371/ for the latest information on the Deep Creek Fire and to find a copy of the closure order and map.   

 GREAT FALLS, Mont. September 2, 2022 – On Wednesday, August 31 a new fire was reported south of Great Falls in the northwest corner of the Little Belt Mountains. In response to the fire, a new area closure is in place to help protect fire personnel and the public. “With a red flag warning in effect today, and dry conditions for the foreseeable future, we are implementing this order to keep hunters and visitors a safe distance from the active fire and give space to fire personnel to manage the incident,” said Belt Creek-White Sulphur Springs District Ranger Helen Smith. “We appreciate your patience and will rescind the order as soon as it is safe to do so.” The area closure includes Deep Creek Trail #309, Temple Gulch Trail #308, Trail #311, and Trail #303. The closure will be in effect until September 30, unless rescinded earlier. Visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8371/ for the latest information on the Deep Creek Fire and to find a copy of the closure order and map  

The Deep Creek Area Closure has been rescinded.

Solomon Fire Update (Sept. 13) - This will be the last update for the Solomon Fire unless conditions change. 

Over the past few days, the Solomon Fire grew by approximately 50 acres and is now estimated to be 400 acres in size. The fire continues to slowly grow and exhibit moderate-active fire behavior, primarily on the eastern and the northern flanks of the fire. Yesterday’s cool weather and high humidity slowed fire growth and moderated fire behavior considerably. The fire continues to slowly burn in the main bowl below Solomon Mountain (at approximately 6,800 feet in elevation), burning through the heavy dead and down fuels.
Firefighters are anticipating warm and dry conditions which will persist through the weekend. A helicopter is being used as needed to check fire spread, focusing on the northern flank of the fire to prevent the fire from becoming established in the Solomon Creek drainage. The fire is most active in the afternoons, exhibiting fire behavior that consists of occasional single and group tree torching, short up-hill runs, and creeping, driven by current weather conditions.

Solomon Fire Update - Sept. 8, 2022

Over the past few days, the Solomon Fire has grown by approximately 50 acres and is now 350 acres in size. Steady growth and moderate-active fire behavior has been observed primarily on the eastern flank of the fire. Afternoon winds have pushed the fire toward the east to the top of a ridgeline (at the top of Mecca Gulch). Yesterday, a helicopter was used to check fire spread on the eastern flank of the fire to prevent fire growth over the ridge. Additionally, the fire continues to slowly burn in the main bowl below Solomon Mountain where heavy fuels and dead and down trees are predominant (at approximately 6,800 feet in elevation). 
The fire is most active in the afternoons, exhibiting fire behavior that consists of occasional single and group tree torching, short-range spotting, and short up-hill runs driven by weather and low relative humidity. Firefighters are anticipating cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity beginning this evening (Sept. 8) and throughout the day tomorrow (Sept. 9) which will help to moderate fire behavior.
Firefighters and engines continue to actively patrol the Rock Creek Corridor and are also patrolling the fire from the air. Those recreating in the area may see or hear helicopters working, which will be used as needed to check and limit fire spread on the ridge.
Smoke may be visible from the Rock Creek Road, the Rock Creek recreation corridor, and parts of the Bitterroot Valley. If you are recreating in the Rock Creek area, please drive with caution as fire vehicles will be present. 
The terrain, fuel type, and the presence of snag trees limit the ability to place firefighters directly on the fire. Firefighter and public safety is the top priority when assessing this engagement. No structures or infrastructure are currently threatened. 
*Fire Information will be updated every 2-3 days unless conditions significantly change. 
Incident Overview: The Solomon Fire is being managed under a point protection strategy which means that highly valued resources (such as buildings, infrastructure, or recreational assets) are being strategically protected from the fire, utilizing various natural and geographic features (past wildfires, trails, rock, and cliff bands) while protecting other values consistent with the Welcome Creek Wilderness. Air support, such as helicopters, may be used to slow and limit potential fire spread. Firefighters are patrolling and monitoring the fire via air and from vantage points on the ground and utilizing fuel moisture measurements, field weather observations, and fire models to inform the suppression strategy. 

CLOSURESEmergency trail closures are in place for public safety: 

• Solomon Ridge Trail #142, from milepost 0.0 at Solomon Ridge Trailhead to milepost 4.2 at its junction with Trail #232.
• Welcome-Sawmill Saddle Trail #232, from milepost 0.0 at its junction with Trail #142 to milepost 5.4.
• Sawmill Ridge Trail #178, from milepost 0.0 at Sawmill Fishing Access to milepost 6.4 at its junction with Trail #232.
• Welcome Mountain Trailhead

Solomon Fire Update for Sept. 5- Sept. 7

*The next fire update will occur on Sept. 8 unless conditions significantly change 

Fire behavior continues to be active in the afternoons due to persistent hot, dry, and breezy conditions and low relative humidity. The fire is burning steadily into a heavy fuel component of dead and down trees in a large bowl (at approximately 6,800 feet in elevation) below a ridgeline, exhibiting fire behavior that consists of occasional single and group tree torching, short-range spotting, and short up-hill runs. The location of the fire is in steep and thickly timbered terrain with snags, or hazard trees, making up about half of the standing fuel. Fire growth has been observed primarily on the north side of Solomon Mountain and is typically between 50-75 acres of new growth per day, slowly moving to the north and east.

Firefighters and engines will be actively patrolling the Rock Creek Corridor and remaining vigilant of the conditions. Firefighters are also patrolling the fire from the air. A helicopter may be used as needed to check and limit fire spread

Smoke may be visible from the Rock Creek Road, the Rock Creek recreation corridor, and parts of the Bitterroot Valley. If you are recreating in the Rock Creek area, please drive with caution as fire vehicles will be present.

The terrain, fuel type, and the presence of snag trees limit the ability to place firefighters directly on the fire. Firefighter and public safety is the top priority when assessing this engagement. No structures or infrastructure are currently threatened.

Incident Overview: The Solomon Fire is being managed under a point protection strategy which means that highly valued resources (such as buildings, infrastructure, or recreational assets) are being strategically protected from the fire, utilizing various natural and geographic features (past wildfires, trails, rock, and cliff bands) while protecting other values consistent with the Welcome Creek Wilderness. Air support, such as helicopters, may be used to slow and limit potential fire spread. Firefighters are patrolling and monitoring the fire via air and from vantage points on the ground and utilizing fuel moisture measurements, field weather observations, and fire models to inform the suppression strategy 

Fuel Type

Burning in heavy timber, dead and downed timber, and snag trees (overhead hazards).

Fire Behavior

Occasional torching and uphill runs, creeping, and smoldering. Smoke and flames may be visible as temperatures warm. Fire activity is expected to increase in the afternoons with hot and dry conditions.

Closures

Emergency trail closures are in place for public safety:

•   Solomon Ridge Trail #142, from milepost 0.0 at Solomon Ridge Trailhead to milepost 4.2 at its junction with Trail #232
•  Welcome-Sawmill Saddle Trail #232, from milepost 0.0 at its junction with Trail #142 to milepost 5.4
•  Sawmill Ridge Trail #178, from milepost 0.0 at Sawmill Fishing Access to milepost 6.4 at its junction with Trail #232.
•  Welcome Mountain Trailhead

Weather