The Alexander Mountain post-fire BAER team has completed their burned area assessment report for the Roosevelt National Forest (attached below). The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessment represents one part of the greater collaborative post-wildfire recovery efforts that occur with a coalition of local, state and federal agencies, scientists and natural resource managers after some fires. BAER teams focus solely on National Forest lands and values at risk in the immediate aftermath of an incident.

The Alexander Mountain Fire summary report found limited risks to human life and safety, infrastructure, natural and cultural resources on Forest Service lands within the burn area. The report found increased risk for flooding and debris flows following heavy rainstorms, primarily due to steep slopes throughout the burned area. This risk is pertinent not only for Forest Service lands but also for values downstream of the Roosevelt National Forest. The BAER team is therefore working closely with Larimer County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the agency leading the Larimer Recovery Collaborative, on their post-fire emergency response work. 

Everyone near and downstream from the burned area should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains over the burn scar. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events. Larimer County has a website with recovery resources for residents impacted by the Alexander Mountain Fire. Other flood preparedness information is available at www.ready.gov/floods and www.floodsmart.gov.

The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland will continue to work and participate in interagency efforts address threats to public and private recovery needs following the fire. 

Devil’s Knob and Milepost 98 Fires Evening Update for Tuesday, September 10, 2024 

KEY MESSAGES: 

CIMT NW 13 will be holding a public meeting tomorrow at 7:00 pm at the South Umpqua Community Church; 27292 Tiller Trail Hwy, Days Creek, OR 97429. The community will be provided a briefing by the Incident Management Team and Agency Administrators from local units on the fire management strategy, objectives, and tactical operations. This meeting will be recorded and posted to Facebook for those unable to attend.  

All lanes on the Interstate-5 corridor near Milepost 98 Fire are open. 

The overall incident strategy is to minimize impacts to values at risk through direct line construction where possible and indirect actions when necessary. 

CURRENT STATUS:  

Devil’s Knob- Resources: 612 Crews: 17 Engines: 16 Water Tenders: 10 

The Devil’s Knob night group continued to strengthen lines and worked diligently on the spot from the night before. On the northeast flank near the 1610 road, crews continue to work on containment lines. Aviation worked buckets most of the shift keeping fire in check. On the southern edge, fire backed to the containment lines today giving crews a great opportunity to mop-up lines and deepen the lines to hold better for containment. On the northwest flank, crews were able to deepen control lines. For tomorrow, the goal is to continue to secure and hold containment lines, and mop-up where it is safe to minimize the impacts to the values at risk. Crews tonight will have additional challenges with the cold front coming in bringing stronger winds. This will make it harder for crews working due to the fire weakened trees. 

Milepost 98- Resources: 337 Crews: 13 Engines: 13 Water Tenders: 13 

Night shift on the MP 98 incident had another quiet evening with crews continuing to mop-up and patrol, strengthening the control lines for the day shift. On the southern edge, falling of overhead hazard trees is complete and crews continue to mop-up and deepen the control lines. Towards the I-5 corridor, hazard trees need to be removed to reduce threats to the highway. Crews were able to mop-up control lines to a depth of 50 feet.  Bucket work with the helicopters worked interior smokes to keep heat down and minimize threat to containment lines. On the northern edge, crews worked all day moping up and patrolling lines with no issues. Night shift will continue to work perimeters and strengthen lines in preparation for the incoming weather.  

Click the link to watch a video of Matt Krawczynski as he describes and shows the workings of and uses for their portable water purification plant.

THIS CLOSURE WAS TERMINATED ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 

The Salmon‐Challis National Forest has implemented the Vanity Fire Closure, Order Number: 04‐13‐24‐018. 

Description of #04-13-24-018: 

DESCRIBED ROADS

The closure shall include the following National Forest System Road:

•                NFSR # 40008 Beaver Creek Road from Vanity Summit to Josephus Lake

The purpose of this order is to protect public safety during the Vanity Fire.

This Order shall be in effect from September 5, 2024, at 18:00 (6:00 pm) through September 30, 2024, at 12:00 am unless rescinded.

The Vanity Fire was detected on September 3 and is located approximately 42 miles west of Challis on the Middle Fork Ranger District.  The fire is 113 acres burning in subalpine fir, surrounded by the 2012 Halstead 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. Specific values potentially threatened with this fire include Forest Service infrastructure.  27 firefighters are assigned to the fire. 

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

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Incident Commander: Chris Hericks
Location: Southwest of Branham Lakes Campground
Start Date: 09/04/2024
Cause: Lightning
Size: estimated at 130 acres
Resources on Site: 3 Initial Attack Modules
Total Personnel: 14

The Pedro Mine Fire, located nine miles east of Sheridan in the Mill Creek area, is burning in steep, rocky terrain with little to no access for firefighters. The area contains a large concentration of standing dead trees (“snags”) that pose challenges to ensuring firefighter safety and in responding to potential medical emergencies, jeopardizing the well-being of firefighters and other responders.

Fire managers from the Forest, working in collaboration with local Madison County officials have identified and prioritized critical values at risk in the fire area. Firefighting efforts will focus available resources on the protection of structures on private inholdings, active mining claims, and Branham Lakes Campground. All these values are approximately .1-.6 miles from the fire.

There are several factors involved in making wildfire management decisions. These factors include, firefighter safety, resource availability and threats to public safety and property. As well as, terrain, fire behavior, fire season outlook and modeling, and past prescribed fire units and vegetation management projects in the area. Fire managers are strategic in their approach and continually reassess conditions and alter management strategies to protect critical values.

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS:
The spot fires that were north of the fire were active and grew together. Crews planned and completed a firing operation adjacent to Branham Lakes. This buffer will protect the infrastructure and vegetation in the campground. These actions also provide a place of refuge for recreationists and first responders for fires in the future. The cabin closest to the fire continued to have sprinklers operated around it all day. The barricade remains in place at the intersection of Mill Creek Road (FS RD 111) and the Middle Fork Mill Creek Road (FS RD 7313) to limit public access into the fire area and Branham Lakes Campground. An overnight mapping mission using infrared has been ordered again for tonight.

Tomorrow’s actions will continue with structure protection of the cabin closest to the fire and the campground by patrolling for spot fires and operating the sprinkler systems. Fire personnel will also assess and potentially finish, the burning around Branham Lakes Campground to bring it to the road system and secure it. The main fire will continue to be monitored for fire spread and threat to identified values.

These actions are designed to allow fire personnel to protect the identified values at risk while operating in areas that have much better access and egress to safety.

Agency representatives continue to compile contact information for affected landowners immediately adjacent to the fire area.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
Today was another dry, warm, and windy day. This pattern will change starting tomorrow with slightly cooler temperatures, much higher relative humidity, and chance of rain by the evening. This system has approximately 0.5” of rain forecasted through Friday with snow levels dropping to 7,000’. If this forecast plays out it will be considered at least a season-moderating event and may be a fire-season ending event for the fire area.

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:
The Forest is in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Campfires are allowed only in a permanent metal fire grate/ring provided by the Forest Service in a designated, developed recreation site. Smoking is restricted to vehicles, in buildings, or in an area clear of flammable materials. Devices with an on/off switch that use LPG fuels are allowed in an area clear of flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.

Click the link to watch a video of Tactical Camp Solutions owner explains his mobile ice-making plant that is being used on the Park Fire (first-of-its-kind wildfire use). 

Check out todays edition of KXGB Radio Interview for Middle Fork Complex Fire September 10, 2024

Huckleberry Ridge Fire

Daily Update
September 10, 2024
Reported: September 4th at 3:45 p.m. | Size: 293 | Cause: Under investigation
Total Personnel: 338| Engines/Tenders:30 | Hand Crews: 12

The Huckleberry Ridge Fire continues to burn eight miles from the nearest structure and eleven miles from the nearest community. No Infrastructure are at risk at this time.

Update: Crews have been successful in preventing additional fire growth over the last two days.  There is still considerable work to be done to finish securing the fire edge with containment lines due to the very steep terrain and heavy logging slash and timber fuel types.  However, more line is completed each day utilizing one type 1 hotshot crew, multiple type 2 initial attack crews, heavy equipment, and other critical resources. Containment is shown at 8% today and will slowly be increasing as the days go on while mop-up is done along containment lines.  A helicopter sling load mission is being done to fly in pumps, fuel, hose, sprinklers and other supplies to an area surrounding the spot fire located north of the main fire to aid in containment efforts. 

Safety: Hunting Season continues so please be aware there are both firefighters and hunters in the woods right now. Use cation and stay vigilant. For anyone hunting , please stay out of the fire area and aware there is substantial firefighting activity in the area with a lot of vehicle traffic.

Evacuations/Closures: There are no anticipated evacuations or road closures in the future for this fire, but we continue to ask that the community stay out of the area of the fire, be alert, and stay aware of the danger that exists in your area.

Weather: Tuesday will be mild and dry with increasing clouds and minimum relative humidity values between 45-50% Tuesday afternoon. Rain arrives with a cold front after 1800, becoming steady soaking rain Tuesday night. Steady rain will transition to on-off rain showers behind the cold front. The probability for rain amounts in excess of 0.25 inches is at 90%. Forecast rain amounts are high enough to put a significant damper on fire activity. Winds should stay under 10mph through Wednesday, aside from a brief wind gust up to 15mph possible Wednesday morning when winds will be blowing from south to north. 

Air Space Restrictions: We continue to have a Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) is in place over the fire. If you fly, We can’t.

Operational flight over the Chimney Fire from September 9, 2024.