**Middle Fork Complex Fire Update For 09/27/2024**

Middle Fork Fire Information: 208-992-3045 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.) | Email: 2024.middleforkcomplex@firenet.gov

Middle Fork Complex: 61,484 acres, 90% completion, 482 Personnel

Snag Fire: 33,436 acres, 90% comple on, 139 Personnel

Goat Fire: 26,524 acres, 46% comple on, 67 personnel

Today warmer temperatures, sunny clear skies, with calmer winds, and staying dry for the extended forecast. Relative humidity expected to be in the mid 20 percentile. Good relative humidity recoveries expected overnight will limit fire behavior.

Middle Fork Complex – Southeast side is continuing to be monitored where there is s ll some heat present and may show some smoke due to the warmer temperatures and the continuing drying of the finer fuels. Crews will be patrolling these areas as temperatures increase.

Goat – Yesterday, full suppression direct and indirect fire line was finished on the west side. Today crews are working on the ridgeline down around the private lands back to Clear Creek Road securing the fires edge. Containment and comple on line will continue to show more progress.

Snag – Crews working on the north end are working on the indirect and direct hand and dozer lines, making good progress. Suppression repair on the west side is coming to completion. Crews and engines are still present and evaluating any concerns.

Middle Fork Complex - Suppression Repair = 25 miles of handline completed. 8 miles of dozer line completed. 

Goat and Snag Fires - Suppression Repair = 15 miles of handline completed. 3 miles of dozer line completed.

Firefighters continue work both fire suppression and suppression repair as needed so heavy firefighting equipment is moving from site to site. Please use extreme caution while traveling, especially when approaching vehicles, and at intersections.

Firefighters have the conditions today to burn West Dolores Rim prescribed fire Unit 20A, a 124-acre Ponderosa pine unit located 7.4 miles northeast of Dove Creek, Colorado. This unit will be burned using ground ignitions only. 

Smoke is expected to be visible from US-491 and CO-141 throughout the weekend and into next week. Winds are expected to push smoke away from Dove Creek and Egnar, though smoke may settle into low lying area overnight. For more smoke information, visit https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

View the map and full announcement on the BLM website: https://www.blm.gov/.../sept-26-28-blm-conduct-prescribed....

For information on prescribed burns, follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/SWD_Fire and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BLMMontroseFireUnit.

Bachelor Complex Closure Order 09/26/24

Goosmus Fire Update                               

September 27, 2024

The Goosmus Fire is burning between Big Goosmus Road and Danville and along the United States and Canadian Boundary.  The Goosmus Fire started at approximately at 2:30pm and spread rapidly north, primarily driven by winds as a cold front passed through the area. 

Yesterday, aerial resources dropped retardant lines to slow fire progression, primarily along the north end (head) of the fire.  Crews worked with dozers and hand crews to create indirect and direct lines, where accessible.  Spot fires were reported across the head of the fire, primarily in the 4th of July Creek area.  Crews worked throughout the day to locate these spot fires and lined them.

Today, firefighters work towards finalizing a line around the fire. Indirect lines will be evaluated and, where safe, will be burned out to the fires front to secure the line. Increased smoke may be visible in these areas during these operations.  In areas that are considered greater risk, crews will work on creating direct lines to the fire front.  Helicopters will primarily be used to help reduce fire behavior (especially in areas of torching: tree canopy igniting on fire), working with crews to safely finalize the line around the fire.

FIRE ACTIVITY: 

The Red Rock Fire is at 3,208 acres and 73% containment.  

The recent successful efforts constructing containment lines around the northwest corner of the fire has allowed those areas to move into mop-up status and those crews to refocus on the eastern edge of the fire. Crews continued to establish handlines along the remaining uncontained sections of the perimeter. Problematic weather with gusty southwest winds is being forecast for the weekend, prompting the increase in staffing on the eastern edge of the fire. Ground crew work is being augmented with heavy aircraft support. 

The Black Eagle Fire is at 6,825 acres and 8% containment. 

The majority of the fireline of the Black Eagle Fire exists inside the Frank Church Wilderness and is being monitored for growth where the additional acreage was added. The majority of fire growth and visible smoke is remote and within the wilderness area. The areas outside of designated wilderness have seen increased fire behavior due to recent gusty winds, warm temperatures, and low relative humidities. These sections of line are being fully suppressed, with structure protection efforts for the Black Eagle Mine as contingency. 

WEATHER: 

The weak weather system that moved through region yesterday morning brought some increased winds but cooler temperatures and slightly higher relative humidities, which moderated fire behavior. A weak high pressure ridge will build over the area Friday bringing higher temperatures and lower humidities, but the southwest winds will diminish to 6 mph with gusts to 16 mph. Saturday will see warmer temperatures and afternoon gusts up to 25 mph. Sunday will be cooler but with afternoon gusts up to 40 mph. 

FIRE BEHAVIOR: 

Decent overnight humidity recoveries have moderated fire behavior across both fires. Areas where humidities fell below 25% with gusty winds did experience some increased activity in heavy dead and down fuels. Controlling spot fires and direct line construction in these areas has been the most difficult. 

FOREST CLOSURES: For forest closure information please go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/scnf/alerts-notices 

EVACUATIONS:  For evacuation information in Lemhi County regarding these fires please go to: Emergency Management Department | Lemhi County, ID (lemhicountyidaho.org). 

Curent Situation:  

• The Lava Fire is 68% contained at 97,669 acres, with 452 personnel assigned. Acreage is down due to more accurate mapping. 
• On the east side of the fire, Idaho City Hotshots constructed handline from Snowbank Mountain to Gabe Peak. That portion accounted for the 1% increase in containment in rough country.  
• Hand crews also constructed hand line up the Willow Creek drainage yesterday and were able to secure the uncontrolled fire edge. 
• Firefighters scouted the area today west of God’s Acres and found pockets of heat. Crews plan on going direct in that area tomorrow.  A 3-acre spot fire was discovered in the Hurd Creek area. The Fulton Hotshots will be inserted there today to go direct on the fire.  
• Several spot fires outside the Lava Fire perimeter were discovered near Forest Road 653 yesterday and crews will be working on containing them with hand line today. 

Weather: Cooler temperatures and higher humidity were prevalent on Thursday. Sunny, warmer, and dryer air will move into the area today. Saturday is forecast to be the  warmest and dryest since the fire was active. A cold front is expected to pass over the fire area.  Little or no moisture is expected. Temperatures are expected to  drop back to seasonal, but will remain dry. 

Evacuations: A Level 1 “READY” notice remains for residents south of South Grays Creek, along Little Weiser River Road in Indian Valley, North of South Grays Creek Road to Highway 95, and the Mesa Area. Valley County Sheriff’s Office has removed Zones 2 & 3 from LEVEL 1 “READY” status. Zones 4 – 6 remain in a LEVEL 1 “READY” Evacuation notice.  

Closures: Closures: The Boise and Payette National Forests implemented a joint Lava Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure for public and firefighter safety. For more information see Payette National Forest closures or Boise National Forest closures. 

Gem County Road and Bridge issued the following road closures: Third Fork Road at Nesbitt Lane, Second Fork Road at Nesbitt Lane, and Nesbitt Lane. The Sweet-Ola Highway is closed at the High Valley intersection in Ola.   

Temporary Flight Restrictions: A temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been updated. View a map of the TFR and details at https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_8199.html. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft systems or drones. If you fly, we can’t! Learn more about how to use drones safely and responsibly at Home - Know Before You Fly. 

Fire Info Phone: 208-708-5003  Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Email: 2024.Lava@firenet.gov  . 

Facebook:@LavaFire Inciweb: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-lava-fire 

There have been 8 new fires reported on the Salmon-Challis National Forest since the last update on Monday, August 12, 2024.  To date, there have been 37 wildfires reported on the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  29 of the fires have been declared out.  The Salmon-Challis National Forest assisted with suppression on three (3) fire on Bureau of Land Management lands this past week.

Tillyhump (August 18): is located approximately nine (9) miles southeast of Baker on the Leadore Ranger District.  The 0.25 acre fire burning in timber 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 100% contained.

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 0.50 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.

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.

Pass (August 15): is located approximately 20 miles southeast of Leadore on the Leadore Ranger District.  The 0.10 acre fire is out.

Twelve Mile (August 15):  is located approximately 12 miles south of Salmon on the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District.  The 0.25 acre fire is out.

Hawley (August 13): is located approximately 10 miles southeast of Leadore on the Leadore Ranger District.  The 0.10 acre fire burning in a single tree is out.

Patterson (August 11): is located approximately 14 miles east of May on the Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District.  The 0.10 acre fire is out.

Greyhound (August 11): is located approximately 46 miles northwest of Challis on the Middle Fork Ranger District.  The two (2) 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.  On last flight, two smokes were showing with no change in fire size since previous flight.  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.  

Castle (August 11): is located approximately 33 miles southwest of Salmon on the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District.  The 0.25 acre fire burning in grass, brush, and fir is out.

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 five (5) acre fire is burning in lodgepole and subalpine fir.  A few small areas of smoke was observed during yesterday’s flight over the fire area.

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 100% contained and controlled 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 52 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.

Ajax (July 24):  The lightning fire is located approximately 13 miles northeast of Salmon, approximately one (1) mile northwest of Ajax Peak on the east side of the Carmen Creek drainage on the North Fork Ranger District.  The Ajax Fire is estimated at four (4) acres and is out.

Weather:  ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...Southwest flow aloft will continue today and expect scattered thunderstorms this afternoon and a Red Flag Warning has been issued from noon to 6 pm. Will be dry on Tuesday with breezier conditions and 20 to 25 mph wind gusts expected.

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 62 uncontained large fires being managed under a full suppression strategy and 14 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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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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Frog Fire Statistics

• Size: 3,112 acres
• Containment: 42%
• Total Personnel: 143
• Location: east of Clayton, ID
• Reported: September 7, 2024
• Cause: Lightning

For More Information

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idstf-frog 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sawtoothnationalforest

Current Situation:  On the Frog Fire, fire spread is limited by the discontinuous timber stands, which are broken up by rocky features and aspen stands.  Rock screes are being used as natural barriers to contain the fire which has only grown 10 acres since September 13.  The fire area is sheltered from the westerly winds by the high mountain ridges of the White Cloud Mountains.

Helicopters dropped buckets of water on the fire throughout the day yesterday, supporting fire crews working on the western edge of the fire perimeter.  Some of the fire engines and equipment that have been patrolling the East Fork and Big Boulder Roads will be reassigned to the Wapiti due to the decreased potential for the Frog Fire to continue spreading to the north.

Evacuations:  There are currently no evacuations related to the Frog Fire.

Closures:  The area closure in place around the Frog Fire includes FS 667 (Big Boulder Creek Road) and Trail 047 where adjacent to the closure boundary. The closure excludes FS Roads 669 and 670 and Trail 682. Hunters and recreationalists should familiarize themselves with this closure information prior to entering the vicinity.  Please reference the map and read the full closure description at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/idstf-frog.

Wapiti Fire Statistics

• Size: 125,508 acres
• Completion: 72%
• Total Personnel: 312
• Location: near Grandjean, ID
• Reported: July 24, 2024
• Cause: Lightning

For More Information

• InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-wapiti-fire
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wapitifireinfo2024
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/WapitiFireInfo2024
• Interactive Map:  https://tinyurl.com/WapitiFireInfoMap

Special Emphasis: As you head out for the weekend, check the status of roads, trails, and campgrounds for closures and potential traffic restrictions. Please respect all posted signage and obey any traffic control measures in place. Fire crews and heavy equipment will also be traveling the roads and highways. Fire managers and local forest officials are constantly evaluating the closures and will reduce and/or lift them only when conditions are safe enough to allow for public entry. The links below direct you to maps and information to help plan hunting and recreational activities. Collection of firewood within closure areas is also prohibited; any firewood collection in open areas must be done with a valid firewood permit. For questions on firewood collection on the Sawtooth National Forest, please contact the Stanley Ranger Station at 208.774.3000. The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team has arrived on the Wapiti Fire to begin assessments of the fire area and develop a plan for emergency stabilization to limit threats and damage from the effects of fire, such as erosion control.

Weather:  Yesterday began with near-record high temperatures. And although it was breezy through the afternoon, fire behavior remained moderate on both the Wapiti and Frog Fires thanks to slightly higher humidity from the cloud cover. Beginning today, temperatures will climb again. The weekend will be unseasonably warm with clear skies expected. The pattern repeats Sunday when higher winds are again predicted, followed by warm and dry conditions.

Current Situation:  Fire activity yesterday on the Wapiti Fire increased earlier in the day due to the warm morning temperatures. The activity was most prominent along the fire perimeter near Bull Trout Lake and Copper Mountain near Cape Horn. Helicopters dropped buckets of water on the flames to support fire crews working on the ground to dig fireline. The fire activity was not of significant concern for substantial growth; it was estimated at up to 5 acres last evening. Fire crews will continue to focus their suppression efforts in these locations through the weekend. Additional fire resources are arriving to support the fire suppression efforts and equipment is being reassigned from the Frog Fire to the Wapiti Fire to support the repair efforts. 

The work to open the road to Grandjean is continuing at a good pace. Fire managers should soon have access to the valley then will evaluate the suppression repair needs and hazards. Fire-weakened trees that could fall on the road, buildings, or other infrastructure may be removed, and more equipment and supplies may be necessary to complete the repair work. Part of the work will also include developing a process and timeline for landowners to safely access their property. 

Evacuations:  Evacuation status for Stanley Zone 1 is currently at READY. Stanley Zones 2 – 5 and Kasino are no longer in an evacuation status. Sign up for Custer County CodeRED emergency notifications:  text CUSTER to 99411 or enroll at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/BF28E45537FF.

All Boise County evacuation levels have been lifted; residents should remain alert for any change in conditions which could reinitiate an evacuation status. Sign up for Boise County Alert Sense emergency notifications at https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/publicUser.aspx?regionid=1163.

For evacuation information on the Wapiti Fire, please see the Custer County Sheriff’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/p/Custer-County-Sheriff-Idaho-61558947312289/, and the Boise County Sheriff’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/boisecountysheriff/.

Closures:  The Wapiti Fire area closure covers portions of the Sawtooth, Boise, and Salmon National Forests. Please reference the map and description at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/idbof-wapiti-fire.  Recreationalists and hunters should reference this map and obey all posted signage regarding the closure area and any related road, trail, and campground closures.

An interactive map for all closures on the Boise National Forest is found at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/642380b0eb124c8cab6bd9ad3d7146ad/page/Overview/#data_s=id%3AdataSource_5-1888bd00a2c-layer-13-1888bd00b53-layer-16%3A82.