Weather – RED FLAG WARNING in effect through tonight due to gusty winds and low relative humidity. Clouds increasing today, with wind gusts 30 to 35 mph out of the southwest. A moist Pacific front will bring steady rain Sunday with a good chance of snow above 7000 feet Sunday night. A warming and drying trend will follow this precipitation event.

The Boundary Fire is burning in steep and inaccessible terrain in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, on the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest and the Lowman Ranger District of the Boise National Forest. Firefighter and public safety remain the number one priority.

Crews at the Middle Fork Ranch observed active fire behavior until 2 am Friday morning due to poor relative humidity recovery. The fire appeared to be impinging on Mountain King Mine and volatile fire behavior kept firefighters from accessing that area.

Near the Greyhound Mine, the fire was flanking and backing toward the infrastructure there.

Mop up around the Little Creek Guard Station continued yesterday. Firefighters worked on improving the trail from Sulphur Creek Ranch to the Boundary Creek Road to allow the movement of ranch horses out of the inholding for the season. Crews also started working on fuel reduction treatments along the 579 Road and at Fir Creek Campground.

Helicopters flew a limited number of missions Friday until high winds and smoke drifting in from fires on the west coast grounded the fleet. The Type 1 helicopter is now stationed at the Valley Creek helibase.

Today, crews will secure the existing perimeter around Sulphur Creek Ranch and plan to hold the south side of the property as fire approaches. They will also mop up and secure the Boundary Creek administrative site. Firefighters are prepared to implement point protection at Seafoam Guard Station and Lodge. Helicopter missions to backhaul equipment out of Thomas Creek area will occur as conditions allow.

CLOSURES and RESTRICTIONS: On the Salmon-Challis National Forest, the Boundary Fire Emergency Area, Road and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-21-015 is in place to protect public health and safety. Fire managers are asking the public to please stay out of the closure area. Forest Road #172, the access for Pinyon Peak Lookout, is included in the closure.

Rafters with a Middle Fork of the Salmon launch permit can contact 208-879-4108 for more information. Closure orders and maps may be viewed on the Salmon Challis National Forest web page. Hunters with special permits within the closure area are encouraged to call the Salmon office of Idaho Fish and Game at 208-756-2271 and visit their website at http://idfg.idaho.gov.

Information on wildfire smoke can be found at http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/ and https://www2.deq.idaho.gov/air/AQIPublic/Forecast and select Idaho Falls Region. Salmon is located in the dropdown menu.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salmonchallisnf
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7795/
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 Weather – RED FLAG WARNING in effect through Saturday night due to high winds and low relative humidity. Partly cloudy today, with wind gusts 25 to 30 mph out of the southwest. Dry air spreading across the region is resulting in poor humidity recoveries overnight. A moist Pacific front will bring steady rain Sunday with a good chance of snow above 7000 feet Sunday night.

The Boundary Fire is burning in steep and inaccessible terrain in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, on the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest and the Lowman Ranger District of the Boise National Forest. Firefighter and public safety remain the number one priority.  

A recent infrared flight has allowed for updated acreage figures. The fire was moderately active yesterday, with crewsobserving backing, torching and short-range spotting. The fire has moved west over Sheep Ridge and has spotted into Corduroy Creek. Yesterday firefighters mopped up hot spots around the Little Creek Guard Station and just across the Middle Fork of the Salmon. The helibase for Type 2 and Type 3 helicopters was moved from Cape Horn to Valley Creek. Today, crews will assess opportunities for fuel reduction around Fir Creek Campground and for improving the 579 Road as a contingency line.

The percentage of completion in the table above represents accomplishments of the incident’s operational objectives. It is based on a weighted scale matrix that includes fireline containment, fuel reduction, point protection, monitoring, and suppression repair, as appropriate to the incident. Objectives on the Boundary Fire include point protection, fuel reduction (as part of point protection), and monitoring. Work completed for the protection of values at risk is the main activity considered in the calculation of completion on this incident. Firefighters have successfully protected and defended Josephus Campground, Morgan Ranch, Boundary Creek Boat Launch and Campground, Fall Creek Bridge, Dagger Creek, Mountain King Mine, and just recently, Little Creek Guard Station. Direct fireline construction is not an objective in this wilderness fire. If the fire reaches the Boise National Forest outside the wilderness on the southwest side, operational objectives will be reassessed.

CLOSURES and RESTRICTIONS: On the Salmon-Challis National Forest, the Boundary Fire Emergency Area, Road and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-21-015 is in place to protect public health and safety. Fire managers are asking the public to please stay out of the closure area. Forest Road #172, the access for Pinyon Peak Lookout, is included in the closure.

Rafters with a Middle Fork of the Salmon launch permit can contact 208-879-4108 for more information. Closure orders and maps may be viewed on the Salmon Challis National Forest web page. Stage 1 fire restrictions were lifted today on the Boise and Sawtooth National Forests.

Information on wildfire smoke can be found at http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/ and https://www2.deq.idaho.gov/air/AQIPublic/Forecast and select Idaho Falls Region. Salmon is located in the dropdown menu.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salmonchallisnf InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7795/ Follow us on Twitter @salmonchallisnf

 Weather – Today will be mostly sunny, with wind gusts to 18 mph. Dry air spreading across the region will result in poor humidity recoveries tonight. Stronger winds and low humidity can be expected on Friday and Saturday.    

The Boundary and Scarface Fires merged and are being managed as a single incident.  The fire is burning in steep and inaccessible terrain in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, on the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest and the Lowman Ranger District of the Boise National Forest. Firefighter and public safety remain the number one priority.

Start Date

Cause

Acres

Containment

Crews

Helicopters

Engines

Personnel

8/10

Lightning

60,979

48%

2

4

9

173 Gusty winds increased fire activity on Blue Bunch Mountain and near the Fir Creek Campground, creating a column visible to several communities. The Type 1 helicopter based in Challis dropped buckets of water along the edge of the wilderness yesterday to slow the fire’s spread toward the campground. In the Lime Creek area, the fire is pushing up toward Sheep Mountain Road.   On the north end of the fire, fire crews protected the Little Creek Guard Station and were able to suppress a few spots that ignited across the Middle Fork of the Salmon River just north of Jackass Flat.    Firefighters continue to evaluate and track the fire’s progression near private property and Forest Service infrastructure in Sulphur Creek, Morgan Creek Ranch, Thomas Creek, Harlan Creek, Boundary Creek and Seafoam Guard Station, as well as the Greyhound Mine. Point protection involves protecting specific assets or highly valued resources without directly halting the continued general spread of the fire. This is appropriate in remote areas when very few resources are available. Management action plans are being constructed for point protection strategies on the Boise National Forest, as the fire continues southward movement.  CLOSURES and RESTRICTIONS:  The Salmon Challis has expanded the Boundary Fire Emergency Area, Road and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-21-015. The order is in place to protect public health and safety from the effects of the Boundary Fire. Fire managers are asking the public to please stay out of the closure area. Forest Road #172, the access for Pinyon Peak Lookout, is included in the closure. Float boaters with a Middle Fork of the Salmon launch permit can contact 208-879-4108 for more information.  Closure orders and maps may be viewed on the Salmon Challis National Forest web page.  Stage 1 fire restrictions will be lifted tomorrow. Information on wildfire smoke can be found at http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/ and https://www2.deq.idaho.gov/air/AQIPublic/Forecast and select Idaho Falls Region.  Salmon is located in the dropdown menu. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salmonchallisnf InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7795/ Follow us on Twitter @salmonchallisnf

 
 Boundary Fire Update for September 15, 2021Weather – Today will be mostly sunny and a dry cold front is expected to sweep across Idaho, accompanied by strong winds aloft that will bring breezy winds to the ridgetops as well as west-facing slopes.  Temperatures and relative humidity will be similar to yesterday.  Increased fire behavior is expected as a result of the unstable air mass. 

The Boundary and Scarface Fires merged and are being managed as a single incident.  The fire is burning in steep and inaccessible terrain in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, on the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest and the Lowman Ranger District of the Boise National Forest. Firefighter and public safety remain the number one priority.  

Start Date

Cause

Acres

Containment

Crews

Helicopters

Engines

Personnel

8/10

Lightning

60,979

48%

3

4

11

209

  The fire was active yesterday on Blue Bunch Mountain in the southwest area, in the Lime Creek area, as well as in the Thomas Creek area backing towards Little Soldier Creek and flanking eastward along the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.  No infrared mapping was flown last night.  Helicopters dropped water near Lime Creek and shuttled crews off the fire who have timed out.  Firefighters continued holding and improving point protection measures at the Mountain King Mine.  Firefighters continue to evaluate and monitor the fire’s progression near private property and Forest Service infrastructure in Sulphur Creek, Morgan Creek Ranch, Thomas Creek, Little Creek Guard Station, Harlan Creek, Boundary Creek and Seafoam Guard Station, as well as local mines. Point protection involves protecting specific assets or highly valued resources without directly halting the continued general spread of the fire. This is appropriate in remote areas when very few resources are available. Management action plans are being constructed for point protection strategies on the Boise National Forest, as the fire continues southward movement.   

CLOSURES and RESTRICTIONS:  The Salmon Challis has expanded the Boundary Fire Emergency Area, Road and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-21-015. The order is in place to protect public health and safety from the effects of the Boundary Fire. Fire managers are asking the public to please stay out of the closure area. Forest Road #172, the access for Pinyon Peak Lookout, is included in the closure. Float boaters with a Middle Fork of the Salmon launch permit can contact 208-879-4108 for more information.  Closure orders and maps may be viewed on the Salmon Challis National Forest web page.

Information on wildfire smoke can be found at http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/ and https://www2.deq.idaho.gov/air/AQIPublic/Forecast and select Idaho Falls Region.  Salmon is located in the dropdown menu.

 

Information  208-806-1719  8am-8pm email:  2021.Boundary@firenet.gov

Marty Adell’s Great Basin Incident Management Team 5 took over management of the Boundary/Scarface Fires at 0600 today.

Weather – Temperatures today will be in the 60s above 7000 feet and in the 70s below 7000 feet in elevation.  Relative humidity will be in the teens to twenties. It will remain dry through the week; stronger afternoon winds along mid-slopes and ridgelines are expected Wednesday as a dry cold front moves into the area.  There is a chance of precipitation over the weekend.

The Boundary and Scarface Fires merged yesterday evening and will now be managed as a single incident.   The increased numbers below reflect the combined acreages and resources.

Start Date Cause Acres Containment Crews Helicopters Engines Personnel 8/10 Lightning 58,769 48% 3 4 9 96

The Boundary Fire is burning in steep and inaccessible terrain in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, on the Middle Fork Ranger District. Firefighter and public safety remain the number one priority for the Boundary Fire.

Fire activity picked up in the Lime Creek area yesterday with gusty afternoon winds, with fire making uphill runs. The fire continued back and flanking downhill toward Thomas Creek.  Two separate columns were visible from Stanley, Idaho yesterday.

Firefighters are holding and improving the point protection measures that have been put in place as they evaluate and monitor the fire’s progression near private property and Forest Service infrastructure in Sulphur Creek, Morgan Creek Ranch, Thomas Creek, Little Creek Guard Station, Harlan Creek, Boundary Creek and Seafoam Guard Station. Point protection involves protecting specific assets or highly valued resources without directly halting the continued general spread of the fire. This is appropriate in remote areas when very few resources are available. Crews will also attempt to access Josephus Campground to evaluate the impacts of the fire to the recreation site, and assess impacts to the Mountain King and Greyhound Mines.  

CLOSURES and RESTRICTIONS:  The Salmon Challis has expanded the Boundary Fire Emergency Area, Road and Trail Closure, Order #04-13-21-015. The order is in place to protect public health and safety from the effects of the Boundary Fire. Fire managers are asking the public to please stay out of the closure area. Forest Road #172, the access for Pinyon Peak Lookout, is included in the closure. Float boaters with a Middle Fork of the Salmon launch permit can contact 208-879-4108 for more information.  Closure orders and maps may be viewed on the Salmon Challis National Forest web page.

Information on wildfire smoke can be found at http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/ and https://www2.deq.idaho.gov/air/AQIPublic/Forecast and select Idaho Falls Region.  Salmon is located in the dropdown menu.

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

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7795/    

Follow us on Twitter @salmonchallisnf.  

The Central Idaho Dispatch Zone is at VERY HIGH Fire Danger

On InciWeb @ https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7795/

Date of Detection: August 10, 2021

Current Size:  50,963 acres *

Completion: 48% (completion speaks to the percentage of objectives completed)

Location: 2 miles west of Boundary Creek Boat Launch; Middle Fork Ranger District; Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness

Cause: Lightning/Natural

Fuels: subalpine fir, spruce, Douglas fir, and lodgepole pine.

Resources on Fire: 75 

Type II Crew: 1

Type I Helicopter: 1

Type III Helicopter: 1

Engines: 3

Great Basin Team 5 is shadowing the current organization today and will take command of the fire tomorrow, September 14.  

The Boundary Fire is burning in steep, inaccessible terrain in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority for the Boundary Fire.  The precipitation over the fire area continues to moderate fire activity.  Firefighters observed moderate fire activity with isolated torching and backing fire.  Crews continue to mop up and secure the fire’s edge at the Boundary Creek administrative sites and to the north, west, and east of the private values in Sulphur Creek.  Fire continues to back to the south towards Sulphur Creek.  The fire continues to back in Sulphur Creek, east of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.  There was little growth in other areas of the fire.  

Firefighters will continue to evaluate the fire’s progression, hold and improve point protection measures, and monitor growth towards the values in and near the fire area.  Mop up and securing the fire’s edge continues at the Boundary Creek administrative facilities and the area around the private property in Sulphur Creek.  A point protection strategy, which is defined as, a wildfire response strategy which protects specific assets or highly valued resources from the wildfire without directly halting the continued spread of the wildfire, is being used on the Boundary Fire.  Values at risk are defined as property, structures, physical improvements, natural and cultural resources, community infrastructure, and economic, environmental, and social values such as the Middle Fork River corridor.  

Smoke is anticipated to drift into the area from fires in California and Oregon.  Smoke from the Boundary Fire will remain visible from the community of Stanley and the surrounding area if the drift smoke from other fires to the west disperses.   

WEATHER:  A dry mid-level disturbance will push through the area resulting in some near critical humidity, but wind gusts should remain 20 mph or less.  Parts of the dispatch area will see Haines of 5 and 6 today and tomorrow.  Wednesday and Thursday offer the best chances of critical fire weather conditions as a dry cold front drops into the area. 

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:  The Salmon‐Challis National Forest has expanded the Boundary Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04‐13‐21‐015.  The purpose of this order is to protect public health and safety from the effects of the Boundary Fire.  Fire managers are asking the public to please stay out of the closure area.  Forest Road #172, which is the access to the Pinyon Peak Lookout, is included in the closure.  For a description of the closure area and map please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7795/65899/.  Fire managers continue to assess the closure daily.  Float boaters with a Middle Fork of the Salmon launch permit can contact 208-879-4108 for more information.  

The forest is asking visitors to be aware of the VERY HIGH fire danger for the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  Ensure your campfire is dead out.  If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave!  One Less Spark Means One Less Wildfire.  

Nationally, there are 61 uncontained large fires being managed under a full suppression strategy and 42 large fires managed under a strategy other than full suppression.  Information on wildfire smoke can be found at http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/ and https://www2.deq.idaho.gov/air/AQIPublic/Forecast and select Idaho Falls Region, Salmon is located in the dropdown menu.   

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

The Central Idaho Dispatch Zone is at VERY HIGH Fire Danger

On InciWeb @ https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7795/

Date of Detection: August 10, 2021

Current Size:  50,963 acres

Completion: 44% (completion speaks to the percentage of objectives completed)

Location: 2 miles west of Boundary Creek Boat Launch; Middle Fork Ranger District; Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness

Cause: Lightning/Natural

Fuels: subalpine fir, spruce, Douglas fir, and lodgepole pine.

Resources on Fire: 75 

Type II Crew: 1

Type I Helicopter: 1

Type III Helicopter: 1

Engines: 3 

A Type II Incident Management Team has been ordered for the Boundary and Scarface Fires.  The Forest will in brief Great Basin Team 5 today in Challis.  Monday, Great Basin Team 5 will shadow the Type III organization with the plan to take command of the fire on Tuesday, September 14.  

The Boundary Fire is burning in steep, inaccessible terrain in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority for the Boundary Fire.  The precipitation the fire area received Friday limited fire activity yesterday.  Firefighters observed moderate fire activity with single tree torching and backing fire.  Crews are mopping up and securing the fire’s edge at the Boundary Creek administrative sites and to the north, west, and east of the private values in Sulphur Creek.  Fire continues to back to the south towards Sulphur Creek.  The fire continues to back in Sulphur Creek, east of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.  There was little growth in other areas of the fire.  

Firefighters will continue to evaluate the fire’s progression, hold and improve point protection measures, and monitor growth towards the values in and near the fire area.  Mop up and securing the fire’s edge continues at the Boundary Creek administrative facilities and the area around the private property in Sulphur Creek.  A point protection strategy, which is defined as, a wildfire response strategy which protects specific assets or highly valued resources from the wildfire without directly halting the continued spread of the wildfire, is being used on the Boundary Fire.  Values at risk are defined as property, structures, physical improvements, natural and cultural resources, community infrastructure, and economic, environmental, and social values such as the Middle Fork River corridor.  

Smoke is anticipated to drift into the area from fires in California and Oregon.  Smoke from the Boundary Fire will remain visible from the community of Stanley and the surrounding area if the drift smoke from other fires to the west disperses.   

WEATHER:  A weak upper disturbance will push through the area today resulting in a slight uptick in the winds.  Humidity levels will bottom out around 15 to 20 percent this afternoon with wind gusts 15 to 20 mph.  Winds and humidity will be near critical again tomorrow afternoon, but there's growing confidence that Wednesday and Thursday will bring critical fire weather conditions associated with a dry cold front. 

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:  The Salmon‐Challis National Forest has expanded the Boundary Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04‐13‐21‐015.  The purpose of this order is to protect public health and safety from the effects of the Boundary Fire.  Fire managers are asking the public to please stay out of the closure area.  Forest Road #172, which is the access to the Pinyon Peak Lookout, is included in the closure.  For a description of the closure area and map please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7795/65899/.  Fire managers continue to assess the closure daily.  Float boaters with a Middle Fork of the Salmon launch permit can contact 208-879-4108 for more information.  

The forest is asking visitors to be aware of the VERY HIGH fire danger for the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  Ensure your campfire is dead out.  If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave!  One Less Spark Means One Less Wildfire.  

Nationally, there are 60 uncontained large fires being managed under a full suppression strategy and 42 large fires managed under a strategy other than full suppression.  Information on wildfire smoke can be found at http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/ and https://www2.deq.idaho.gov/air/AQIPublic/Forecast and select Idaho Falls Region, Salmon is located in the dropdown menu.   

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

The Central Idaho Dispatch Zone is at VERY HIGH Fire Danger

On InciWeb @ https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7795/

Date of Detection: August 10, 2021

Current Size:  49,784 acres

Completion: 44% (completion speaks to the percentage of objectives completed)

Location: 2 miles west of Boundary Creek Boat Launch; Middle Fork Ranger District; Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness

Cause: Lightning/Natural

Fuels: subalpine fir, spruce, Douglas fir, and lodgepole pine.

Resources on Fire: 76 

Type II Crew: 1

Type I Helicopter: 2

Type III Helicopter: 1

Engines: 3 

The Boundary Fire is burning in steep, inaccessible terrain in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority for the Boundary Fire.  Yesterday, the fire was active with uphill runs, group torching, and short-range spotting.  The fire continues to burn south along the Boundary Creek Road #568.  Crews are mopping up and securing the fire’s edge at the Boundary Creek administrative sites.  Firefighters are working to mop up and secure to the north and east of the private values in Sulphur Creek.  Crews improved the area which a burnout operation was conducted west of the airstrip at Sulphur Creek Ranch and the fire continues to back to the south towards Sulphur Creek.  Fire has burned around the Josephus Lake Campground with no impact to the values at the campground.  The fire continues to back in Sulphur Creek, east of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.  The majority of the smoke yesterday was from the backing fire in Lime Creek, Josephus Lake, Boundary Creek, and the Sulphur Creek area east of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.  The fire area did receive precipitation yesterday.  

Today, firefighters will take advantage of the current weather and moderated fire activity by ground truthing areas that have been unsafe previously.  Firefighters will continue to evaluate the fire’s progression, hold and improve point protection measures, and monitor growth towards the values in and near the fire area.  Mop up and securing the fire’s edge continues at the Boundary Creek administrative facilities and the area around the private property in Sulphur Creek.  A point protection strategy, which is defined as, a wildfire response strategy which protects specific assets or highly valued resources from the wildfire without directly halting the continued spread of the wildfire, is being used on the Boundary Fire.  Values at risk are defined as property, structures, physical improvements, natural and cultural resources, community infrastructure, and economic, environmental, and social values such as the Middle Fork River corridor.  

Smoke is anticipated to drift into the area from fires in California and Oregon.  Smoke from the Boundary Fire will remain visible from the community of Stanley and the surrounding area if the drift smoke from other fires to the west disperses.  

WEATHER:  No major weather impacts are expected today. Weather will be about 5 to 10 degrees cooler, and humidity 15 to 20 percent in the valleys.  Winds will be somewhat breezy with some gusts to 20 mph, but conditions should fall short of critical today.  Warm and dry conditions will prevail through much of next week. 

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:  The Salmon‐Challis National Forest has expanded the Boundary Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04‐13‐21‐015.  The purpose of this order is to protect public health and safety from the effects of the Boundary Fire.  Fire managers are asking the public to please stay out of the closure area.  Forest Road #172, which is the access to the Pinyon Peak Lookout, is included in the closure.  For a description of the closure area and map please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7795/65899/.  Fire managers continue to assess the closure daily.  Float boaters with a Middle Fork of the Salmon launch permit can contact 208-879-4108 for more information.  

The forest is asking visitors to be aware of the VERY HIGH fire danger for the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  Ensure your campfire is dead out.  If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave!  One Less Spark Means One Less Wildfire.  

Nationally, there are 60 uncontained large fires being managed under a full suppression strategy and 42 large fires managed under a strategy other than full suppression.  Information on wildfire smoke can be found at http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/ and https://www2.deq.idaho.gov/air/AQIPublic/Forecast and select Idaho Falls Region, Salmon is located in the dropdown menu.  

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

The Central Idaho Dispatch Zone is at VERY HIGH Fire Danger

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 10 PM MDT FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS

On InciWeb @ https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7795/

Date of Detection: August 10, 2021

Current Size:  49,784 acres

Completion: 38% (completion speaks to the percentage of objectives completed)

Location: 2 miles west of Boundary Creek Boat Launch; Middle Fork Ranger District; Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness

Cause: Lightning/Natural

Fuels: subalpine fir, spruce, Douglas fir, and lodgepole pine.

Resources on Fire: 76 

Type II Crew: 1

Type I Helicopter: 1

Type III Helicopter: 1

Engines: 1

The Boundary Fire is burning in steep, inaccessible terrain in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority for the Boundary Fire.  Yesterday, the fire was active with uphill runs, group torching, and short-range spotting.  The fire continues to back in the Fall Creek drainage to the south.  Crews are continuing to snag out the Boundary Creek road and are mopping up and securing the fire’s edge at the Boundary Creek administrative sites.  Mop-up was completed around Morgan Ranch.  Firefighters conducted a burnout operation west of the airstrip at Sulphur Creek Ranch, the fire continues to back to the south towards Sulphur Creek.  Fire is established in Sulphur Creek, east of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, and is backing down the south side of the drainage.  

Today, firefighters will continue to evaluate the fire’s progression, will hold and improve point protection measures, and monitor growth towards the values in and near the fire area including the Sulphur Creek Ranch, Boundary Creek administrative site, Seafoam Guard Station and Lodge, parcels of private land and the mine associated with that land, and Josephus Lake Campground, to name a few.  Mop up and securing the fire’s edge continues at the Boundary Creek administrative facilities.  A point protection strategy, which is defined as, a wildfire response strategy which protects specific assets or highly valued resources from the wildfire without directly halting the continued spread of the wildfire, is being used on the Boundary Fire.  Values at risk are defined as property, structures, physical improvements, natural and cultural resources, community infrastructure, and economic, environmental, and social values such as the Middle Fork River corridor.  

Smoke is drifting into the area from fires in California and Oregon.  Smoke from the Boundary Fire will remain visible from the community of Stanley and the surrounding area if the drift smoke from other fires to the west disperses.   

WEATHER:  ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...A cold front will bring scattered thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.  Gusty outflow winds to 50 mph are possible near thunderstorms.  Breezy conditions are also likely outside of thunderstorms although humidity levels will be higher.  Cooler weather and higher humidity is likely for the weekend. 

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:  The Salmon‐Challis National Forest has expanded the Boundary Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order #04‐13‐21‐015.  The purpose of this order is to protect public health and safety from the effects of the Boundary Fire.  Fire managers are asking the public to please stay out of the closure area.  Forest Road #172, which is the access to the Pinyon Peak Lookout, is included in the closure.  For a description of the closure area and map please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7795/65899/.  Fire managers continue to assess closures on a daily basis.  Float boaters with a Middle Fork of the Salmon launch permit can contact 208-879-4108 for more information.  

The forest is asking visitors to be aware of the VERY HIGH fire danger for the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  Ensure your campfire is dead out.  If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave!  One Less Spark Means One Less Wildfire.  

Nationally, there are 57 uncontained large fires being managed under a full suppression strategy and 42 large fires managed under a strategy other than full suppression.  Information on wildfire smoke can be found at http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/ and https://www2.deq.idaho.gov/air/AQIPublic/Forecast and select Idaho Falls Region, Salmon is located in the dropdown menu.   

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

The Central Idaho Dispatch Zone is at VERY HIGH Fire Danger

On InciWeb @ https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7795/

 

The Salmon‐Challis National Forest has expanded the Boundary Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order Number: 04‐13‐21‐015.  

Description of Closed Area, Roads, and Trails (#04-13-21-015):  

Closed Area: All NFS lands in the Middle Fork District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest in the area bounded at the junction of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area (FCNOR Wilderness Area) boundary and National Forest System Road (NFSR) #550 Artillery Dome Road, then following the FCNOR Wilderness Area boundary south and east to the junction of National Forest System Trail (NFST) #4028 Mountain Meadows Trail and NFSR #583 Bear Valley Mountain Lookout Road, then following a straight line southeast to NFSR #568 Dagger Falls Road, then following east and north along the FCNOR Wilderness Area boundary to its junction with NFSR #172 Beaver-Loon Road, then following the FCNOR Wilderness Area boundary along both side of NFSR #172 Beaver Loon Road to its junction with NFST #4115 Rat Creek Trail, then following the FCNOR Wilderness Area boundary on the north side of Lost Packer Mine to its junction with NFST #4011 Blue Lake Trail, the following NFST #4011 Blue Lake Trail and NFST #4004 Little Loon Trail to its junction with the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, then following a direct line north to its junction with Mahoney Creek, then following a straight line west to its junction with Middle Fork of the Salmon River, then following south and west on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River to its junction with Elkhorn Creek, then following east on Elkhorn Creek to the point of origin at the junction of the FCNOR Wilderness Area boundary and NFSR#550 Artillery Dome Road. 

Closed Roads and Trails: All NFS roads (NFSR) and trails (NFST) within the Closed Area 

The purpose of this order is to protect public health and safety from the effects of the Boundary Fire.  “The Salmon-Challis National Forest continues coordination with various stakeholders and  and is taking into full consideration the impacts to hunting season and Middle Fork of the Salmon River trips,” said Heath Perrine, Challis-Yankee Fork/Middle Fork District Ranger, “Public and firefighter safety is the number one priority for the Boundary Fire.”   

This Order will be in effect when signed and shall remain in effect until rescinded.  

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