Evacuations orders have been downgraded for Valley County residents effective yesterday September 20, 2024 (see below). 

Overview: The Lava Fire is on the Boise and Payette National Forests and lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the Idaho Department of Lands. The fire is located north of Emmett and west of Lake Cascade and started by lightning on Monday, September 2. It is burning in tall grass, brush, and timber.  

The Lava Fire is currently 97,934 acres with 61 percent of the perimeter contained. 617 personnel are assigned, including 12 crews, 1 large helicopter, 1 small helicopter, 27 engines, 10 bulldozers, 9 water tenders, 7 excavators, 1 skidder and 8 ambulances. 

Property remaining in an area that is evacuated or impacted by Forest Service closures must remain until fire managers, Sheriff’s departments, and emergency management departments deem the area is safe for reentry.  

Operations: Yesterday, unmanned aircraft system (drone) pilots identified heat scattered within the interior eastern perimeter of the fire line. Minimal smoke was observed in isolated, shady timbered areas in the interior but does not threaten constructed lines. In the eastern flank, chippers reduced burnable vegetation along Forest Service Road 446E and Gopher Road. Firefighters continued to backhaul excess equipment and patrol and mop up as needed. Firefighters constructed direct line along the fire edge in the northern flank from Little Weiser Creek working east and working west from Forest Service Roads 835 to 231. Crews removed hazardous limbs along Forest Service Roads 425, 206, and 835. Bulldozer line was completed near God’s Acres and Cascade Christian Church Camp. Firefighters worked alongside resource advisors to complete suppression repair along bulldozer lines. On the western flank, crews extinguished slopovers along bulldozer lines and worked with resource advisors to repair any damages that may have occurred along that fire edge. Firefighters graded 9 miles of road from Sheep Creek Road north to Shirts Creek Road. They worked with resource advisors in the interior to assess additional needs. Crews continued to monitor the southern flank near the Gross community. Firefighters constructed direct and indirect line along Forest Service Road 653. A Lava Fire informational meeting was held yesterday at the Ola Community Hall and 25 people attended.  

Today, firefighters continue to work alongside resource advisors in all areas to carry out and assess suppression repair needs to return areas to pre-fire conditions.  

On the northern flank, firefighters continue to remove hazardous trees on Forest Service Roads 435, 206, and 835 to allow safe access to interior handlines. Crews continue to build direct line east along the fire edge towards Anderson Creek until it meets with a bulldozer line constructed from the north.  

On the eastern flank, chipping will reduce thick, burnable vegetation on Forest Service Roads 446E and Gopher Road. Crews will patrol Forest Service Road 404 and extinguish any heat sources they find focusing on a depth of 100 feet from the line.  Firefighters will repair bulldozer lines and assess equipment needs such as a road repair graders. Firefighters will begin grading roadways between Campbell Creek boat ramp and God’s Acre. 

On the southern flank, firefighters continue to monitor fire activity near the Gross Community, ready to respond if necessary. Crews are constructing direct and indirect handline northeast along Forest Service Road 653. They will install fire hose to the north of Sage Hen Reservoir and Forest Service Road 626 to prevent potential fire spreading. Crews will move graders that worked along the western flank yesterday to the southern flank to repair roadways today. 

On the western flank, crews will extinguish heat that was detected by infrared drones along the containment lines near Forest Service Road 208. Firefighters will work in the southwest to repair bulldozer line that was installed for containment.  

Weather/Fire Behavior: Another dry and fair day is forecasted today. Minimal cloud cover will provide little to no shade across the fire. Seasonal temperatures will be closer to what is expected in the high 60s. Relative humidity percent continues to dip and is expected to be in the 20s. Wind will start in the north and shift to northwest winds in the afternoon and evening. Wind speeds are forecasted to be 7-12 mph with maximum wind gusts in the mid to upper teens mph. Firefighters will continue to watch for new ignitions from recent lightning that may ignite under sunny conditions. 

Evacuations: Adams County Sheriff’s Office downgraded to a Level 1 “READY” 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. These evacuations notices are effective as of Tuesday, September 17, 2024.   

Valley County Sheriff’s Office removed Zones 2 & 3 from LEVEL 1 “READY” status. Zones 4 – 6 remain in a LEVEL 1 “READY” Evacuation notice. All remaining zones have been removed from any evacuation status for the Lava Fire effective Tuesday, September 17, 2024.  

Closures and Restrictions: The Boise and Payette National Forests implemented a joint Lava Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure for public and firefighter safety. The southern portion of this closure area follows roads 601 (which remains closed) and 644 (which remains open). The northern boundary follows a portion of the Payette National Forest’s road 186 (open) and crosses over to the Boise National Forest just south of trail 116. Snowbank Road (446) and Sage Hen Reservoir area remain closed, French Creek Campground remains open. This closure adjustment became effective on September 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.  

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. Please be advised that the Gem County Sheriff’s Office is staffing the road closure check points. 

A temporary flight restriction is in effect in and around the fire area. This includes the use of personal drones. If you fly, we cannot fly. 

Saturday, September 21, 2024 
Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team #4 
Contact Fire Information:  Phone:  208-593-7132  
Email:  2024.wapiti@firenet.gov 

Frog Fire Statistics

• Size: 3,111 acres 
• Containment: 42% 
• Total Personnel: 116 
• 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 

Special Updates:  With Highway 21 now open to the public, drivers are urged to drive with caution when traveling between Lowman and Stanley as personnel continue to work along the highway.  Please keep your headlights on, drive at the reduced speed limit, and watch for hazards in the road, such as rocks and downed trees. Be prepared for traffic control measures and pilot cars, particularly in areas where the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) may be working to replace guardrails. The area closure is still in place, which affects several roads leading from Highway 21. Access is open to Boundary Creek. The locations of the main fire camp and smaller camps adjacent to Highway 21 are well signed to alert to traffic entering and exiting the roadway; please drive cautiously. 

Weather:  The weather is generally becoming drier across the two fires with the warmer weather moving in. However, winds have decreased and are expected to be light, 5 -10 mph. 

Current Situation:  The focus on the Frog Fire is on scouting and assessing the fire area to determine the most appropriate and safest means for fire suppression. Isolated areas of fire activity were doused with water using helicopters. Crews will be building fireline on the southeastern sides of the fire to reduce the likelihood of the fire spreading. Structure protection crews will continue to assess structures in the area. Crews and helicopters will continue work to increase containment while weather conditions are more favorable. The primary fire camp location for the Frog Fire is near Yankee Fork. 

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

Closures:  An area closure is in place around the Frog Fire. Roads 669 and 670 and trails 678 and 047 are all included in the closure. See the map and read the complete description at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/idstf-frog. 

Fire Statistics:

• Size: 125,476 acres
• Completion: 72%
• Total Personnel: 353
• Location: near Grandjean, ID
• Reported: July 24, 2024
• Cause: Lightning

For more information:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wapitifireinfo2024
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/WapitiFireInfo2024

Special Updates: With Highway 21 now open to the public, drivers are urged to drive with caution when traveling between Lowman and Stanley as personnel continue to work along the highway.  Please keep your headlights on, drive at the reduced speed limit, and watch for hazards in the road, such as rocks and downed trees. Be prepared for traffic control measures and pilot cars, particularly in areas where the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) may be working to replace guardrails. The area closure is still in place, which affects several roads leading from Highway 21. Access is open to Boundary Creek. The locations of the main fire camp and smaller camps adjacent to Highway 21 are well signed to alert to traffic entering and exiting the roadway; please drive cautiously.

Weather:  The weather is generally becoming drier across the two fires with the warmer weather moving in. However, winds have decreased and are expected to be light, 5 -10 mph.

Current Situation:  Firefighters continue work to repair fire suppression actions. Smoke will be visible from areas where fire is smoldering in heavy downed timber, and flames may also be seen coming from internal pockets of unburned fuel within the fire’s existing perimeter. Firefighters are actively working in all areas of the fire and will take appropriate actions to limit fire spread. 

On the western portion of the fire, repair work is occurring around the Bull Trout and Lowman areas and is expected to be completed in the next two days. A plan is being put together and equipment ordered to repair the debris flows near Grandjean to open the roadways. At this time, there is no estimate when the road will be passable. An assessment will be made to determine the repair work needed in the Chapman Creek and Eight-Mile Ridge area. 

To the north, crews are working around the Boy Scout Camp and Cape Horn area and are expected to have that repair work completed in the next one to two days.  Miscellaneous repair work near Homestead and Crooked Creek is continuing. Resources on the east of the fire will continue to monitor the area around the Stanley Lake area and any increase in fire activity that may require additional suppression actions.  

On the eastern side of the fire, repair work along the 210 road near the Goat Falls area continues with dozer line repair and the collection and piling of logs.  About a week of work remains in this area.  

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

All evacuation levels have been lifted for Boise County; residents should continue to be alert for any change in conditions which could cause a return of evacuation status. To sign up for Boise County Alert Sense emergency notifications, enroll online 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 has been reduced but still 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. 

Residents and visitors should also be aware of the closure for the Middle Fork Complex, found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices. 

FIRE ACTIVITY:

Red Rock Fire is currently at 3055 acres and 28% containment.

Taking advantage of the significant influx of state and federal agency resources, crews were able to go direct across the fire yesterday.  While some challenging areas remain in the fire’s northwest and southeast corners, crews are now engaged on nearly all areas, including the entire southern boundary. Over 200 firefighters are at spike camps, a forward operating base designed for maximum efficiency. 

Despite encountering stronger-than-expected winds, with gusts reaching 28 mph that heightened fire activity and limited air support, crews made notable progress in gaining containment on the fire and will continue these efforts today. With wind speeds expected to decrease, air operations are likely to resume this morning.

To mitigate the impact of heavy vehicle traffic on local roads, maintenance and grading work has been underway, along with the use of chippers to clear the tree debris commonly left in the wake of firefighting efforts. This tactical repair work will persist today as resources shift toward a long-term suppression repair strategy.

Black Eagle Fire is currently at 6451 acres and 4% containment.

Incident management continues to closely monitor fire behavior on the west and north sides of the Black Eagle Fire, where there has been minimal growth in recent days. Today, resources will focus on tackling hotspots on the southeast side near Black Eagle Creek and Black Eagle Mine, as well as conducting hazard tree abatement along nearby roads.

WEATHER:

Today’s weather will likely be similar to yesterday’s but with slightly cooler temperatures and calmer winds. We expect highs of around 55 degrees, with humidity around 26%. Winds are predicted to subside to 8mph out of the N/NE with gusts up to 15mph.

FIRE BEHAVIOR:

Fire behavior is expected to increase today as fuels will become progressively dry and more available for fire spread.  While fire growth will likely be limited, it is expected in some areas, particularly in the bowl near Red Rock Peak.  In these areas, direct attack on the fire may become more challenging.

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).

Map of Black Eagle and Red Rock Fire - 9/21/24

Sat, 09/21/2024 - 09:30

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Map of Black Eagle and Red Rock Fire - 9/21/24

Map of Black Eagle and Red Rock fires - 9/21/24

Unified Command: CIIMT5, Los Angeles County Fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff, San Bernardino County Sheriff, CAL FIRE – San Bernardino/Inyo/Mono Unit

Start Date: September 8, 2024, at 2:12 p.m.

Incident Website: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/caanf-bridge-fire

Fire Information: (626) 662-0120

Media Line: (626) 470-1395

Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Email: 2024.Bridge@firenet.gov 

Fire Size: 54,795 acres

Percent Contained: 59%

Personnel: 1,910

Injuries: 5

Structures Damaged: 17

Structures Destroyed: 81

Cause: Under investigation

Location: Sheep Mountain Wilderness, San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

CURRENT SITUATION: Today, potential thunderstorms did not materialize, and the fire area saw only trace amounts of rain in a few spots. However, the possibility of cloud to ground lightning strikes on the north side of the fire led some crews to take shelter for a time. Firefighters continued mop-up efforts across much of the fire area, securing containment lines wherever possible, extinguishing isolated heat sources, and felling hazardous trees to improve public and crew safety—especially in the northwest area around Vincent Gap near Grassy Hollow. Overnight, crews will continue to patrol, mop-up, and answering public service calls.

A Forest Order will close portions of the Angeles National Forest at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. The Order closing the Bridge Fire area is available in local U.S. Forest Service offices and online at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/angeles 

Damage inspection teams have completed their inspections. For more information you will find an interactive maps for residents affected by the Bridge Fire at: 
For San Bernardino County: prepare.sbcounty.gov/bridge-fire/ 
For Los Angeles County: recovery.lacounty.gov/bridgefire/

Local Assistance Centers:

Los Angeles and San Bernadino Counties are working together providing assistance to residents affected by the recent Bridge and Line Fires. The purpose of the LAC is to provide a one-stop center where individuals, family members, and business owners may obtain information on services and assistance needed because of a disaster or damage to personal property. 

https://lacounty.gov/2024/09/18/los-angeles-and-san-bernardino-counties-to-open-joint-local-assistance-centers-for-residents-impacted-by-bridge-and-line-fires/

**Please note that evacuation orders have been lifted in several areas. Current order and warnings still in place are listed below.

Evacuation Order:

• Mile High

Evacuation Warning: 

• Bear Canyon 
• East Fork communities of Camp Williams Resort and River Community

For Interactive maps on evacuations: 

• Los Angeles County: Genasys Protect website or download the app. https://protect.genasys.com  
• San Bernadino:  https://sbcounty.maps.arcgis.com 

For emergency alerts, please register here:  

• Los Angeles County: https://ready.lacounty.gov/emergency-notifications/  
• San Bernardino County: https://wp.sbcounty.gov/sheriff/alerts/   

Evacuation Centers:

• San Bernardino County Fairgrounds: 14800 Seventh Street, Victorville, CA 

Animals: 

• Devore Animal Shelter: 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino, CA. (909) 386-9820. After hours: (800) 472-5609
• San Bernardino County Fairgrounds: 14800 Seventh Street, Victorville, CA 
• Palmdale Animal Care Center (Small Animals): 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale, CA 
• Lancaster Animal Care Center (Small Animals): 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA

For more information on evacuation centers:

• www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.html
• https://lacounty.gov/emergency/ 

ROAD CLOSURES: 

• Big Pines Highway
• Big Rock Creek Road 
• Largo Vista Road
• Mescal Creek Road
• Panorama Motorway
• SR-39 at the base of San Gabriel Canyon (residents of Camp Williams and River Community only)
• Glendora Mountain Road north of Big Dalton Road
• SR-2 at Flume Canyon Road westbound                                             

WEATHER:
The area will see a warming and drying trend as a high-pressure system from the Pacific Ocean moves in. The marine layer will dissipate by early- to mid-week, and relative humidities will drop, leading to elevated fire weather. While winds aren’t expected to be particularly challenging, the weather will still be more favorable for fire growth in the coming week.

Date(s): Sep 20, 2024

Forest Order: 05-01-24-10

The Angeles National Forest has issued a closure order in the area of the Bridge Fire to provide for public safety. Closure of the fire area is necessary to help ensure that no one is injured within the areas impacted by the fire.

The National Forest System roads and trails within the burned area will be closed to provide for public safety and to facilitate natural recovery of the natural resources affected by the Bridge Fire.

This Order is effective from September 21, 2024, through December 31, 2025.

The following is prohibited within the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument: 

1. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Bridge Fire Closure Area as described in Exhibit A and shown on Exhibit B. 
2. Being on any National Forest System Road within the Bridge Fire Closure Area as described in Exhibit A and shown on Exhibit B.  
3. Being on any National Forest System Trail within the Bridge Fire Closure Area as described in Exhibit A and shown on Exhibit B. 

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Owners, lessees, or residents of private land in the Bridge Fire Closure Area, to the extent necessary to access their land, unless the area is under evacuation order by the County Sheriff or California Office of Emergency Management. 
2. CalTech employees or students who are currently assigned to a NASA-JPL program facilities, to the extent necessary to access the Government facility, for the purpose of conducting NASA-JPL research or duties, unless the area is under evacuation order by the County Sheriff or California Office of Emergency Management. Valid NASA-JPL identification is required to be carried while in the closure area. 
3. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty. 
4. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.

See attached information for Exhibit A/B and more details.

Attachments:

Closure Order

Exhibit B South Map

Exhibit B North Map

Bridge Fire Closure Map

4:00 PM, September 20, 2024

Estimated size: 1,098 acres
Start Date/Time: July 17, 2024
Area of Origin: 21 air miles east of Darrington WA
Cause: Lightning
Fuels/Topography: timber, rugged terrain
Structures Damaged: None, there are no homes threatened at this time.
Evacuations: None

This is the last public information update for the Miners Complex fire. The incident email and fire information phone will no longer be monitored after 5pm on Friday, September 20th. The incident Inciweb page will continue to be active until the fires are out.                                                  

Update: Effective 9/20/2024, the Pacific Crest Trail between Mica Lake and Suiattle Pass is now open. The Suiattle River Road closure has been lifted, and all trails are open besides the Suiattle River Trail #784 and Sulphur Mountain Trail #794, which remain closed due to fire activity. 

The Sulphur Fires remain active at high elevations, and fire debris roll-out has been seen near the Suiattle River Trail. It is anticipated that the fires will continue to burn at high elevations until the area receives a significant amount of rain. Little to no activity has been seen on the Miners, Middle Ridge, Dolly, and Plummer fires. Smoke was seen recently on the Vista fire after several weeks without activity.

The Middle Ridge fire burned over ~0.2 miles of the PCT. While hiking on the PCT, please note that the fire does not pose any active safety risks, but fire weakened trees can be a safety hazard. If you are in the area, you may see or smell smoke. Please consider the following safety tips for hiking in fire impacted areas:

• Do not camp in an area with standing dead or fire impacted trees, as they are likely to fall. 
• If there are high winds, consider adjusting your schedule to avoid spending time in recently burned areas. During high winds, fire impacted trees are much more likely to fall.
• Erosion can be common after fires, leading to poor or unstable trail conditions. Stay situationally aware when hiking on burned over trails – look for any areas of the trail that are eroding, especially at high elevations next to drop-offs. 

Please follow the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on Facebook and the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest website Alerts & Notices page for updates on any further trail openings. 

Smoke: For more information on smoke and air quality please visit: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

Forest Restrictions: The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie has lifted the full campfire ban and forest-wide shooting restrictions, effective 8/28/2024. All closures are lifted in the fire area besides the Suiattle River Trail #784 and Sulphur Mountain Trail #794. Additional details at: www.fs.usda.gov/mbs

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Lava Fire Evacuation Zone Update, September 20th, 1410 MDT

We are removing the ready status for zones 2 & 3 on the Lava Fire.

Zones 4 - 6 will remain in "Ready". Valley County Sheriff Copperi is actively engaging with fire officials and will continue throughout the weekend to keep us all updated.

You will continue to see columns of smoke along West Mountain. As always if you have concerns, please contact our dispatch center and we will take the information and pass it along to the appropriate persons,

If you have questions or need more information, please contact our dispatch center at 208-382-5160.

Thank you and as always, be safe.

Valley County Idaho

U.S. Forest Service - Payette National Forest

U.S. Forest Service - Boise National Forest

Cascade Fire Department

Donnelly Rural Fire Protection District

West Mountain Fires

KXGV Radio Host Slim Gormet interviews Great Basin Team 2 Public Information Officer Erin Meyrs and Incident Meteorologist Dan Byrd

https://youtu.be/kDimrrff2mY?si=txtvco8m5yjjwL5h