Nelson Creek Fire Evening Update:
07/19/2022
10:30 pm

Size: 1,852 acres
Containment: 80%
Date Started: 7/18/2022


 Local fire departments, Walker County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and Texas A&M Forest Service continue to work in unified command while fighting the Nelson Creek Fire. Dozers crews constructed and improved containment lines on both flanks of the fire throughout the day. Dozer lines have been successfully tied in on the left (west) flank. Rough terrain has slowed progress on the right flank (east) but is expected to be tied later tonight.

Variable and gusty winds in the early afternoon became a cause of concern as the fire displayed signs of resistance. Dozer crews and Type 1 helicopters caught and secured spot fires from the increased fire behavior. Several retardant drops from the VLAT (very large air tanker) helped secure areas of concern along the east flank and head. The progress made in line construction, identifying hotspots, and in mop-up operations has resulted in an increase in containment.

Crews will be back on the fire tomorrow to continue patrolling, mopping up and checking containment lines.

Nelson Creek Morning update: July 19, 2022 @ 9:00am
July 19, 2022
9:00 am

Size: 1500 acres
Containment: 35%
Date Started:  July 18, 2022
Injuries: 2


Fire activity moderated through the night, allowing crews to make good progress on the left side and head of the fire. Tough terrain has slowed firefighters progress on the right side of the fire, but containment will likely increase after crews access the area in daylight. Aircraft will continue to be used to support ground resources, and operations are normal at this time.

Injuries: One volunteer fire fighter was transported to the hospital via ambulance late yesterday due to heat illness, and one interagency firefighter was transported to the hospital due to a minor injury.
 

Nelson Creek Fire Evening Update: July 18, 2022 @ 10:00 pm
07/18/2022
10:00 pm

Size: 1250 acres
Containment: 20%
Date Started: 7/18/2022

Local, state, and federal resources are currently engaged and constructing containment line on both flanks of the Nelson Creek Fire. Fire behavior remains high as steady winds continue to move the fire north towards the Trinity River. Three structures as well as three hunting camps are threatened at this time. Resources will continue line construction tonight. Staffing along with aviation resources have been ordered for tomorrow. 

 Effective at 8:00 am today, Zone 5 and Zone 6 (Twin Creek south to Hughes Creek on both sides of Hwy 93) have been
removed from READY (Green) status and are no longer under any evacuation status. Due to continuing fire activity on the fire’s western flank, Zone 14 has been added to READY (Green) status, and includes the area from Salmon River Road south along Panther Creek Rd just past Trail Creek Rd.

 Moose Fire Daily Update                                                              August 15, 2022

Fire Information: 208-742-6690 daily from 8 AM – 8 PM    Email: 2022.moose@firenet.gov

Salmon-Challis National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salmonchallisnf

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

 78,729 acres, Contained 34%  Human caused; under investigation West and south of North Fork, Idaho – Pine Creek and Stormy Peak areas. Grass/Brush/Timber

Effective at 8:00 am today, Zone 5 and Zone 6 (Twin Creek south to Hughes Creek on both sides of Hwy 93) have been

removed from READY (Green) status and are no longer under any evacuation status. Due to continuing fire activity on the fire’s western flank, Zone 14 has been added to READY (Green) status, and includes the area from Salmon River Road south along Panther Creek Rd just past Trail Creek Rd.
 

 The hot, dry weather that settled into the area yesterday is forecasted to continue through the middle of the week. Winds are expected to remain light. The areas around Pine Creek and Beaver Creek are currently the most active, with the fire that crested the ridge over the Salmon Breaks now backing down the steep slope towards the river. Moderate smoke kicked up in the cottonwoods along Highway 93 near Bobcat Gulch around midday yesterday. Firefighters monitored the fire throughout the night, ensuring it remained within the fire perimeter. Today, rafts will shuttle fire-fighters and equipment across the river to work the fire. Good progress is being made on containment and contingency lines across the fire area, with the majority of planned lines being complete or nearing completion. The Pretty Fire that started two days ago near the intersection of Panther Creek Rd and Salmon River Rd was contained yesterday and has not grown in the past 24 hours. Moose Fire ground and aviation resources assisted with initial attack on a new lightning-caused fire, Petes Fire, yesterday near Moyer that is currently estimated at about 5 acres in size. 

 At 6:00 am Tuesday, August 16th, the Northern Rockies Type 1 Incident Management Team 2 will assume command of the Moose Fire. 

 EVACUATIONS: Zone 14 (Salmon River Rd south along Panther Creek Rd to Trail Creek Rd) is now in “Ready” status. Zones 5 and 6 are no longer in an Evacuation Status. Residents in Zone 8 (Squaw Creek to Pine Creek bridge) and Zone 1 (Fairgrounds to Tower Creek west of Highway 93) remain in “SET” status. All other zones are in “READY” status. The latest updates can be found at https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/site-home/urgent-alerts/latest-updates-moose-creek-fire.  

 CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: A Salmon-Challis National Forest closure order remains in effect for the Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-22-506. Lands north of Salmon River Road are open, and the Salmon River Road is open to two-way traffic from North Fork to Spring Creek. Details and a closure map can be found at https://bit.ly/3BotHEf. Morgan Bar Campground is temporarily closed to public use; see on.doi.gov/3bCSeLx.For your safety, please stay out of the fire area north of the Salmon River, as well as other burned areas. Loose rocks, hazard trees, and lingering hot spots can all be extremely dangerous.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.There is a temporary flight restriction over the fire area; see https://tfr.faa.gov. Thank you for respecting the TFR. If you fly, we can’t. Don’t be the reason that a firefighting air operation must divert from the mission.

TOTAL FIRE RESOURCES ASSIGNED

Personnel

1013

Hand Crews

19

Engines

56

Helicopters

2 Type 1; 2 Type 2; 2 Type 3

Visit our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/scnf/, ‘Like Us’ on Facebook @salmonchallisnf, and ‘Follow Us’ on Twitter @salmonchallisnf https://twitter.com/SalmonChallisNF.

Moose Fire Daily Update                                                        August 14, 2022

Fire Information: 208-742-6690 daily from 8 AM – 8 PM    Email: 2022.moose@firenet.gov

Salmon-Challis National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salmonchallisnf

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

     78,084 acres, Contained 29%.  Human caused; under investigation. West and south of North Fork, Idaho – Pine Creek and Stormy Peak areas. Grass/Brush/Timber

An isolated thunderstorm dropped 0.04” of rain on the north side of the fire area yesterday morning. Around midday, clouds dissipated and temperatures increased reaching up to 101° at the Indianola Remote Weather Station. A period of hot, dry weather is forecasted over the next few days with humidity levels dropping into the low teens. Fire activity will include creeping and smoldering, with isolated tree torching possible. Smoke may be visible in some areas, especially around Haystack Mountain and in the Pine Creek Area. Pine Creek to the ridge above the Salmon Breaks continues to be the most active corner of the fire and flames may be visible from Salmon River Road near Shoup. Due to a lack of strong winds in the forecast, large fire growth is not anticipated. A new fire was reported yesterday at the convergence of Panther Creek and the Salmon River. Initial attack crews and helicopters responded, delivering 46 bucket drops and stopping the spread of the 2-3 acre fire. On the northern edge of the fire along the Salmon River, crews will continue monitoring the contained edge and repairing handline. Monitoring and mop up will continue down the Highway 93 corridor, as well. In the “horseshoe” including Napoleon area, Napoleon Hill, and Forest Road 053, hand crews have been constructing line. They anticipate completing these lines by the end of shift today. In Moose Meadow, engine crews have been working along the active fire edge to eliminate the heat creeping into the meadow, and expect to finish mopping up the area today. On FR 300 West of Leesburg, heavy equipment finished widening the line and today’s tasks include chipping and debris removal in that area. EVACUATIONS: Residents in Zone 8 (Squaw Creek to Pine Creek bridge) and Zone 1 (Fairgrounds to Tower Creek west of Highway 93) remain in “SET” status. All other zones are in “READY” status. The latest updates can be found at https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/site-home/urgent-alerts/latest-updates-moose-creek-fire.  CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: A Salmon-Challis National Forest closure order remains in effect for the Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-22-506. Lands north of Salmon River Road are open, and the Salmon River Road is open to two-way traffic from North Fork to Spring Creek. Details and a closure map can be found at https://bit.ly/3BotHEf. Morgan Bar Campground is temporarily closed to public use; see on.doi.gov/3bCSeLx.For your safety, please stay out of the fire area north of the Salmon River, as well as other burned areas. Loose rocks, hazard trees, and lingering hot spots can all be extremely dangerous.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.There is a temporary flight restriction over the fire area; see https://tfr.faa.gov. Thank you for respecting the TFR. If you fly, we can’t. Don’t be the reason that a firefighting air operation must divert from the mission.

TOTAL FIRE RESOURCES ASSIGNED

Personnel

1092

Hand Crews

21

Engines

58

Helicopters

3 Type 1; 2 Type 2; 2 Type 3

Visit our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/scnf/, ‘Like Us’ on Facebook @salmonchallisnf, and ‘Follow Us’ on Twitter @salmonchallisnf https://twitter.com/SalmonChallisNF.

 Moose Fire Daily Update                                                        August 13, 2022

Fire Information: 208-742-6690 daily from 8 AM – 8 PM    Email: 2022.moose@firenet.gov

Salmon-Challis National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salmonchallisnf

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

77,298 acres,  27% contained. Human caused; under investigation. West and south of North Fork, Idaho – Pine Creek and Stormy Peak areas. Grass/Brush/Timber

 Thunderstorms passed over the area throughout the past 24 hours and dropped a considerable amount of rain in the valley South and Southwest of the Moose Fire. The fire area itself only received spotty rain between 0.02 and 0.1 inches, primarily on the East side. The cloud cover, cooler temps, and moisture helped moderate fire behavior over most of the fire area and is expected to continue through today. After that, hot and dry weather is expected to return to the area. Pine Creek experienced the most fire activity yesterday, with the fire cresting over the Salmon Breaks. Flames may be visible from River Road near Shoup. A new start was reported in the late afternoon near Deep Creek and an initial attack crew from the Moose Fire responded, in cooperation with the Salmon Challis National Forest. Several days of favorable weather gave firefighters an opportunity to gain containment on the fire and made it possible for firefighters to go direct on the fire edge in the “horseshoe” to protect structures and values in Moose Creek. Work on the Panther Creek and Beaver Creek contingency lines were completed yesterday. Today, crews will patrol that area and mop up hot spots. Patrol, mop up, and suppression repair will continue along the Northern and Eastern edges of the fire along Salmon River Rd and Highway 93. Chipping of fuel mitigation piles was completed yesterday at Wallace Lake Campground and along the Diamond Line. On the 035 Forest Road along Jackass Ridge, crews finished constructing the contingency line and plan to remove a few remaining hazard trees and strengthen the line today. Along FR 300 West of Leesburg, crews are removing and chipping brush, and heavy equipment is working to widen the line. With yesterday’s weather and structure protection missions being completed, structure crews were reassigned to initial attack duties to respond to new starts. EVACUATIONS: Residents from Squaw Creek to Pine Creek on Salmon Road remain in “SET” status. All other zones are in “READY” status. The latest updates can be found at https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/site-home/urgent-alerts/latest-updates-moose-creek-fire.  CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: A Salmon-Challis National Forest closure order remains in effect for the Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-22-506. Lands north of Salmon River Road are open, and the Salmon River Road is open to two-way traffic from North Fork to Spring Creek. Details and a closure map can be found at https://bit.ly/3BotHEf. Morgan Bar Campground is temporarily closed to public use; see on.doi.gov/3bCSeLx.For your safety, please stay out of the fire area north of the Salmon River, as well as other burned areas. Loose rocks, hazard trees, and lingering hot spots can all be extremely dangerous.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.There is a temporary flight restriction over the fire area; see https://tfr.faa.gov. Thank you for respecting the TFR. If you fly, we can’t. Don’t be the reason that a firefighting air operation must divert from the mission.

TOTAL FIRE RESOURCES ASSIGNED

Personnel

1232

Hand Crews

26

Engines

59

Helicopters

3 Type 1; 2 Type 2; 2 Type 3

Visit our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/scnf/, ‘Like Us’ on Facebook @salmonchallisnf, and ‘Follow Us’ on Twitter @salmonchallisnf https://twitter.com/SalmonChallisNF.

 Moose Fire Daily Update                                                         August 12, 2022

Fire Information: 208-742-6690 daily from 8 AM – 8 PM     Email: 2022.moose@firenet.gov

Salmon-Challis National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salmonchallisnf

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

        75,481 acres, 21% contained. Human caused; under investigation. West and south of North Fork, Idaho – Pine Creek and Stormy Peak areas. Grass/Brush/Timber 

Effective 8:00 AM today, the Lemhi County Sheriff is reducing the evacuation notice to READY status
for Zones 2 and 7, from Tower Creek to North Fork and west to Caddiagan Ranch.

Firefighters are working 16-hour days, aggressively taking advantage of recent precipitation and favorable weather, making gains on objectives for containment and contingencies. Although the eastern side of the fire received more rainfall than the western side, generally favorable conditions aided firefighters across the fire. Similar weather is expected today with southwest winds and scattered rain and thunderstorms. With the increased humidity, fire behavior is generally expected to be moderate for the next few days.

 Crews are scouting for potential to construct direct line in the horseshoe area on the east side of the fire. Work continues on the Panther Creek contingency line. Fuel work is completed on Forest Road 300 west of Leesburg, but chipping still needs to be done. Work on Forest Road 035 is nearing completion, while efforts on the Diamond Line and Jackass Ridge area continue. Chipping work is also underway in the Wallace Lake area. Structure protection is on-going with crews assessing structures and surrounding vegetation and working with property owners to reduce wildfire threats.On the north side of the fire, crews continue to monitor and patrol the perimeter. Teams are already out evaluating and initiating resource repair needs in the area.

EVACUATIONS: Effective 8:00 AM today, the Lemhi County Sheriff is reducing the evacuation notice to READY status for Zones 2 and 7, from Tower Creek to North Fork and west to Caddiagan Ranch. Residents from Squaw Creek to Pine Creek on Salmon Road remain in “SET” status. All other zones are in “READY” status. The latest updates can be found at https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/site-home/urgent-alerts/latest-updates-moose-creek-fire.

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: The Salmon-Challis National Forest has issued a closure order for the Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-22-506. Lands north of Salmon River Road are open, and the Salmon River Road is open to two-way traffic from North Fork to Spring Creek. Details and a closure map can be found at https://bit.ly/3BotHEf. Morgan Bar Campground is temporarily closed to public use; see on.doi.gov/3bCSeLx.For your safety, please stay out of the fire area north of the Salmon River, as well as other burned areas. Loose rocks, hazard trees, and lingering hot spots can all be extremely dangerous.
 
 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.

There is a temporary flight restriction over the fire area; see https://tfr.faa.gov. Thank you for respecting the TFR. If you fly, we can’t. Don’t be the reason that a firefighting air operation must divert from the mission.

TOTAL FIRE RESOURCES ASSIGNED

Personnel

1228

Hand Crews

32

Engines

59

Helicopters

4 Type 1; 2 Type 2; 4 Type 3

Visit our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/scnf/, ‘Like Us’ on Facebook @salmonchallisnf, and ‘Follow Us’ on Twitter @salmonchallisnf https://twitter.com/SalmonChallisNF.

 Moose Fire Daily Update                                                         August 11, 2022

Fire Information: 208-742-6690 daily from 8 AM – 8 PM     Email: 2022.moose@firenet.gov

Salmon-Challis National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salmonchallisnf

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

74,953 acres, 21% contained. Human caused; under investigation. West and south of North Fork, Idaho–Pine Creek and Stormy Peak areas. Grass/Brush/Timber 

 Cloud cover is diminishing today, but moderated fire behavior is again anticipated due to the cooling benefits of yesterday’s rain. With low fire activity expected, firefighters can be more aggressive extending and strengthening containment lines, developing contingency lines, and focusing on structure protection.

 Structure protection work is on-going in the Pine Creek Ranch, Panther Creek, Spring Creek, Beaver Creek, Wallace Lake, and Highway 93 corridor areas, including Tower Rock, Diamond Subdivision, and Jesse Creek. Crews assess structures and surrounding vegetation and work with property owners to reduce wildfire threats. Firefighters deploy and test temporary sprinklers, hoses, and pumps on properties threatened by the fire.Firefighters continue to strengthen the Diamond Line, install pumps and hoses, improve direct fire line in the Jackass Ridge area, and reduce fuels on Forest Road 035. Heavy equipment is making progress in the Moose Creek area and masticators are moving along Forest Road 300. Crews are cutting and chipping vegetation along Panther Creek Road and working to secure a line from Pine Creek to Beaver Creek. Indirect line construction and work to reduce wildfire threats to decked trees is in progress on the Ridge Road (Forest Road 020) south to Williams Creek.

On the north side of the fire, crews continue to monitor and patrol the perimeter. Teams are already out evaluating resource repair needs in the area.

 EVACUATIONS: There have been no changes to evacuation status around the fire. Residents from Tower Creek to North Fork remain in a “SET” status. Residents from Squaw Creek to Pine Creek on Salmon Road are also in “SET” status. All other zones are in “READY” status. The latest updates can be found at https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/site-home/urgent-alerts/latest-updates-moose-creek-fire.  

 CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:

• The Salmon-Challis National Forest has issued a closure order for the Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-22-506. Lands north of Salmon River Road are open, and the Salmon River Road is open to two-way traffic from North Fork to Spring Creek. Details and a closure map can be found at https://bit.ly/3BotHEf. Morgan Bar Campground is temporarily closed to public use; see on.doi.gov/3bCSeLx.For your safety, please stay out of the fire area north of the Salmon River, as well as other burned areas. Loose rocks, hazard trees, and lingering hot spots can all be extremely dangerous.
• 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.
• There is a temporary flight restriction over the fire area; see https://tfr.faa.gov. Thank you for respecting the TFR. If you fly, we can’t. Don’t be the reason that a firefighting air operation must divert from the mission.

  TOTAL FIRE RESOURCES ASSIGNED

  Personnel

  1308

  Hand Crews

  35

  Engines

  64

  Helicopters

  4 Type 1; 2 Type 2; 4 Type 3

  Visit our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/scnf/, ‘Like Us’ on Facebook @salmonchallisnf, and ‘Follow Us’ on Twitter @salmonchallisnf https://twitter.com/SalmonChallisNF.

 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.
 There is a temporary flight restriction over the fire area; see https://tfr.faa.gov. Thank you for respecting the TFR. If you fly, we can’t. Don’t be the reason that a firefighting air operation must divert from the mission.

TOTAL FIRE RESOURCES ASSIGNED

Personnel

1308

Hand Crews

35

Engines

64

Helicopters

4 Type 1; 2 Type 2; 4 Type 3

Visit our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/scnf/, ‘Like Us’ on Facebook @salmonchallisnf, and ‘Follow Us’ on Twitter @salmonchallisnf https://twitter.com/SalmonChallisNF.

 Moose Fire Daily Update                                                         August 10, 2022

Fire Information: 208-742-6690 daily from 8 AM – 8 PM     Email: 2022.moose@firenet.gov

Salmon-Challis National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salmonchallisnf

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

             74,470 acres, Contained 21%.  Human caused; under investigation West and south of North Fork, Idaho – Pine Creek and Stormy Peak areasGrass/Brush/Timber 

 Despite the active smoke column that was visible from Salmon yesterday afternoon, firefighters are making good progress on the Moose Creek Fire. As temperatures increased, unstable air masses provided conditions to accommodate smoke column development, particularly in the Jackass Ridge, Moose Creek, and Haystack Mountain areas, as well as along the western flank of the fire. However, engine crews quickly responded to spot fires northeast of Jackass Ridge and firefighters extended containment line in the Highway 93 corridor. Last night the air operations group continued work with drones in the Pine Creek area, setting low intensity fire to support containment efforts.
 
Although temperatures remain warm, clouds have moved into the area and will moderate fire behavior. The clouds are expected to hinder smoke column development, shade the fire, and shed rain across the area later in the day. Thunderstorms are expected to develop, with the potential to bring lightning. Humidity is forecast to be higher through Saturday, with warm temperatures through the weekend. 
 
Structure protection work is on-going in the Pine Creek Ranch, Panther Creek, Spring Creek, Beaver Creek, Wallace Lake, and Highway 93 corridor areas. Heavy equipment is working in the Moose Creek area and masticators are moving along Forest Road 300.
 
The temporary flight restriction (TFR) for the fire has changed. The northern reach of the TFR is reduced due to containment in that area. The western edge of the TFR is expanded to accommodate potential air operations to protect the Panther Creek area. Thank you for respecting the TFR. If you fly, we can’t. Don’t be the reason that a firefighting air operation must divert from the mission.
 
EVACUATIONS: There have been no changes to evacuation status around the fire. Residents from Tower Creek to North Fork remain in a “SET” status. Residents from Squaw Creek to Pine Creek on Salmon Road are also in “SET” status. All other zones are in “READY” status. The latest updates can be found at https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/site-home/urgent-alerts/latest-updates-moose-creek-fire.  
 
CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS: The Salmon-Challis National Forest has issued a closure order for the Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-22-506. Lands north of Salmon River Road are open, and the Salmon River Road is open to two-way traffic from North Fork to Spring Creek. Details and a closure map can be found at https://bit.ly/3BotHEf. Morgan Bar Campground is temporarily closed to public use; see on.doi.gov/3bCSeLx.For your safety, please stay out of the fire area north of the Salmon River, as well as other burned areas. Loose rocks, hazard trees, and lingering hot spots can all be extremely dangerous.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. There is a temporary flight restriction over the fire area; see https://tfr.faa.gov.

TOTAL FIRE RESOURCES ASSIGNED

Personnel

1432

Hand Crews

41

Engines

66

Helicopters

4 Type 1; 2 Type 2; 4 Type 3

Visit our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/scnf/, ‘Like Us’ on Facebook @salmonchallisnf, and ‘Follow Us’ on Twitter @salmonchallisnf https://twitter.com/SalmonChallisNF.