Woodhead Fire Morning Update

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Contact Fire Information: 208.207.7417 or 2020.woodhead@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7163/ Follow: #WoodheadFire
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMIdahoFire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/
 

A local Type 3 Incident Management Team took over the management of the Woodhead fire from the Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team #4 on September 29th, 2020 at 0700. Great Basin Team #4 would like to once again thank the local communities for their support during their time managing the fire.

Yesterday’s high temperatures were 16 degrees above average, and the warming and drying trend will continue through the week. Despite warmer temperatures; shorter days, light winds and higher relative humidity will help limit fire behavior.

Aviation continues to support the northwestern portion of the fire where the terrain is too steep for firefighters to access on the ground. Chipping also continued along portions of the northern end of the fire. Firefighters have completed building fireline in the Dukes Creek area and will now burn small areas to reduce fuel available in front of the main fire. On the west side of the fire perimeter, hand crews and engine crews continued to search for areas of heat and build fireline around them near Jenkins Creek and Calamity Meadows. On the south end, where the fire is contained, fire suppression crews will be repairing the fireline.

CLOSURES  – The Council-Cuprum Road is open for all through traffic. The Payette National Forest closure remains in effect but will be revised by October 1st. Road blocks are on Mill Creek, Ditch Creek, Wildhorse, and Crooked River Roads to remind travelers to stay on the Council-Cuprum Road. The Idaho Department of Lands asks that everyone stay out of the endowment lands west of Council for their safety until further notice. Although Highway 71 and adjacent county roads are open, the burned area remains closed for safety. Descriptions and maps of the closures are available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7163/. 

MAPS – Daily maps are posted at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/maps/7163/.  An animated map of the fire’s progression is also available at https://arcg.is/0vjjL1

Woodhead Fire Morning Update

Monday, September 28, 2020

Contact Fire Information: 208.207.7417 or 2020.woodhead@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7163/ Follow: #WoodheadFire
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMIdahoFire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/
 
After a weekend of cool temperatures, high relative humidity and rain, this week’s weather will gradually become warmer and dryer, but winds will generally remain light. One factor helping limit fire behavior is that the days are about 1 hour shorter than they were at the start of this fire. Another factor limiting fire behavior has been the increase in relative humidity each night (RH recovery) which adds moisture to vegetation.

As firefighters continued mopping up and chipping along the northern end of the fire, they increased containment to 57%. The black line around the fire perimeter on the map indicates sections that area contained. Mop up ensures there is no heat remaining some distance into the fire from the fireline. Chipping mulches the limbs, cut vegetation, and other slash produced during fireline construction. On the northwestern edge near Dukes Creek, firefighters improved sections of fireline by cutting low hanging limbs off adjacent trees. Removing these limbs helps prevent fire from climbing up and torching the tree. On the eastern side of the fire, firefighters continued mopping up around sections where the fire burned in a spotty manner.

A local Type 3 incident management team will be taking over the management of the fire on Tuesday. Great Basin Team 4 appreciates the support from all the surrounding communities over the past three weeks.

CLOSURES  – The Council-Cuprum Road is open for all through traffic. The Payette National Forest closure remains in effect but will be revised by October 1st. Road blocks are on Mill Creek, Ditch Creek, Wildhorse, and Crooked River Roads to remind travelers to stay on the Council-Cuprum Road. The Idaho Department of Lands asks that everyone stay out of the endowment lands west of Council for their safety until further notice. Although Highway 71 and adjacent county roads are open, the burned area remains closed for safety. Descriptions and maps of the closures are available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7163/. 

MAPS – Daily maps are posted at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/maps/7163/.  An animated map of the fire’s progression is also available at https://arcg.is/0vjjL1  

Woodhead Fire Morning Update

Sunday, September 27, 2020

Contact Fire Information: 208.207.7417 or 2020.woodhead@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7163/ Follow: #WoodheadFire
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMIdahoFire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/
 
Yesterday’s cold, wet weather on the Woodhead Fire kept fire behavior very minimal. Firefighters took advantage of this minimal fire behavior to accomplish a lot work, and they increased total containment to 55%. This work included building fireline on the northwestern edge near Dukes Creek by connecting fireline built by hand and bulldozer with some existing roads. Along the northern end of the fire, containment increased as firelines were strengthened. On the eastern edge, minimal fire behavior allowed firefighters to continue building more fireline right next to the fire’s edge.

Today, north winds will bring cold air and limit daytime warming. The cool temperatures combined with yesterday’s rain will keep fire behavior minimal, and firefighters will continue securing the fireline. High pressure will arrive over the fire area on Monday and bring a gradual warming and drying trend and light winds.

Along other areas of the fire, chippers are mulching limbs, slash, and other cut vegetation along firelines. Near Highway 71 on the southern portion of the fire, heavy equipment has started repairing fireline that is no longer needed.

CLOSURES  – The Council-Cuprum Road is open for all through traffic. The Payette National Forest closure remains in effect but will be revised by October 1st. Road blocks are on Mill Creek, Ditch Creek, Wildhorse, and Crooked River Roads to remind travelers to stay on the Council-Cuprum Road. The Idaho Department of Lands asks that everyone stay out of the endowment lands west of Council for their safety until further notice. Although Highway 71 and adjacent county roads are open, the burned area remains closed for safety. Descriptions and maps of the closures are available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7163/. 

MAPS – Daily maps are posted at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/maps/7163/.  An animated map of the fire’s progression is also available at https://arcg.is/0vjjL1  

Woodhead Fire Morning Update

Saturday, September 26, 2020

Contact Fire Information: 208.207.7417 or 2020.woodhead@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7163/ Follow: #WoodheadFire
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMIdahoFire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/
 
Yesterday on the Woodhead Fire, cool, cloudy, humid weather kept fire behavior very minimal through the day followed by a ½” of rain overnight. Despite last night’s rain, large trees remain very dry and will need more moisture before they are resistant to burning. An area of high pressure will arrive at the start of next week bringing warm, dry weather but no strong winds.

The northern tip of the fire has strong firelines along the fire perimeter allowing fire managers to concentrate work on the eastern and northwestern sides of the fire. On the northwestern edge near Dukes Creek, a crew and a bulldozer built fireline directly along the fire perimeter, and they will continue today. On portions of the eastern edge of the fire, fireline exists short distances from the main fire perimeter. In the remainder, firefighters have been building fireline right next to the main fire’s edge. With cooperative weather and minimal fire behavior they will continue this work today.

All the good work along the fire perimeter isn’t reflected in the map which shows long sections of uncontained fire because fire managers must meet a high standard before they can label sections of the fire perimeter as contained. Many sections along the 128-mile fire perimeter are very close to meeting that standard.

Chipping occurred yesterday and will continue today to mulch limbs and other cut vegetation along firelines. On the southern portion of the fire near Highway 71, heavy equipment will begin repairing fireline where it is no longer needed.

CLOSURES  – The Council-Cuprum Road is open for all through traffic, but the Payette National Forest closure remains in effect, and will be revised by October 1st. Road blocks are on Mill Creek, Ditch Creek, Wildhorse, and Crooked River Roads to remind travelers to stay on the Council-Cuprum Road. The Idaho Department of Lands asks that everyone stay out of the endowment lands west of Council for their safety until further notice. Although Highway 71 and adjacent county roads are open, the burned area remains closed for safety. Descriptions and maps of the closures are available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7163/. 

MAPS – Daily maps are posted at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/maps/7163/.  An animated map of the fire’s progression is also available at https://arcg.is/0vjjL1 

Woodhead Fire Morning Update

Friday, September 25, 2020

Contact Fire Information: 208.207.7417 or 2020.woodhead@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7163/ Follow: #WoodheadFire
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMIdahoFire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/
 
Some fire activity on the Woodhead Fire continued into the morning yesterday until daytime relative humidity increased dramatically and decreased fire behavior. This change in weather allowed resources to continue strengthening firelines directly along and a short distance from the main fire perimeter. There are over 120 miles of fire perimeter with firelines along or adjacent to nearly all of it. Where fireline has been constructed a short distance from the fire edge firefighters remain prepared to engage the fire if it approaches the line.

Today, firefighters will continue building fireline directly along the main fire near Dukes Creek. Isolated places have seen limited fire growth shown in the fire progression map. Firefighters will concentrate work in these areas aided by cloudy and humid weather today. During recent days, helicopter pilots have delivered well over 150,000 gallons of water each day, but should get a break today so that they can be ready if fire behavior increases in the future. Along many sections of the fireline, chippers will begin mulching limbs and other cut vegetation. Assessments and planning will continue on the southern portion of the fire for future repair work on firelines constructed by bulldozers on the early days of the fire.

The Council-Cuprum Road is open for all through traffic, but the Payette National Forest closure remains in effect. State endowment lands west of Council are closed as well. Road blocks are on Mill Creek, Ditch Creek, Wildhorse, and Crooked River Roads to remind travelers to stay on the Council-Cuprum Road.

Area closures are being constantly evaluated by land managers.  Great Basin Team #4 is working with the Payette National Forest, Boise District BLM, Idaho Department of Lands, and the Adams and Washington County Sheriff’s Offices.  The Payette National Forest closure will be reduced in size on or before October 1st.

CLOSURES –  The Idaho Department of Lands asks that everyone stay out of the endowment lands west of Council for their safety until further notice.  And the Payette National Forest’s full closure description and map are available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7163/.  Although Highway 71 and adjacent county roads are open, the burned area remains closed for safety.

MAPS – Daily maps are posted at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/maps/7163/.  An animated map of the fire’s progression is also available at https://arcg.is/0vjjL1 

Woodhead Fire Morning Update

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Contact Fire Information: 208.207.7417 or 2020.woodhead@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7163/ Follow: #WoodheadFire
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMIdahoFire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/
 
On Tuesday on the Woodhead Fire small burnouts in Ditch Creek and upper Olive Creek were used to remove vegetation along the fireline in preparation for yesterday’s stronger winds which increased fire behavior mostly on the northern and eastern parts of the fire.  Firefighters spent the day holding the main fire within firelines they had built both adjacent to and a short distance from the main fire.  Taking advantage of good visibility, helicopters supported this work by dropping over 150,000 gallons of water on the fire as directed by firefighters on the ground.

Weather today and over the next five days should put a damper on fire activity with cloudy skies, cooler temperatures, calmer winds, and higher relative humidity.  Today firefighters will continue focusing on holding the fire within their firelines.  They will build more fireline directly along the fire perimeter on the western edge of the fire near Duke Creek. In areas near Highway 71 on the southern portion of the fire with minimal fire activity where it has been contained, they will be planning work to repair fireline constructed with bulldozers.

Yesterday, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office opened the Council-Cuprum Road to through traffic.  As a reminder the State endowment lands west of Council are closed, and the Payette National Forest closure remains in effect.  Road blocks remain on Mill Creek, Ditch Creek, Wildhorse, and Crooked River Roads to remind travelers to stay on the Council-Cuprum Road.

Area closures are being constantly evaluated by land managers.  Great Basin Team #4 is working with the Payette National Forest, Boise District BLM, Idaho Department of Lands, and the Adams and Washington County Sheriff’s Offices.  The closures will be reduced as soon as it is safe for firefighters and the public.

CLOSURES –  The Idaho Department of Lands asks that everyone stay out of the endowment lands west of Council for their safety until further notice.  And the Payette National Forest’s full closure description and map are available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7163/.  Although Highway 71 and adjacent county roads are open, the burned area remains closed for safety.

MAPS – Daily maps are posted at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/maps/7163/.  An animated map of the fire’s progression is also available at https://arcg.is/0vjjL1. 

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has opened the Council-Cuprum Road to through traffic.
Travelers should be aware that this may change dependent upon fire activity and weather conditions.  Please check before traveling through the area.  As a reminder the endowment lands west of Council are closed, and the Payette National Forest closure remains in effect.  Road blocks remain on Mill Creek, Ditch Creek, Wildhorse, and Crooked River Roads to remind travelers to stay on the Council-Cuprum Road.

Woodhead Fire Morning Update

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Contact Fire Information: 208.207.7417 or 2020.woodhead@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7163/ Follow: #WoodheadFire
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMIdahoFire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/
 
Strong winds are expected to arrive today ahead of another cold front.  Fire managers on the Woodhead Fire are prepared for a day with high potential for fire growth.  Crews have been working diligently to construct fireline on the northern edge of the fire in anticipation of today’s weather forecast.  Tomorrow, cooler temperatures and a chance of precipitation will again give firefighters the advantage.

Yesterday, small burnouts were conducted in Ditch Creek and in upper Olive Creek.  Burnouts strategically remove grass, brush, and trees along the fireline under select, desirable conditions to lower fire intensity as the main fire approaches.  This tactic is being used because it can take advantage of roadways and other natural or manmade fire breaks to be more efficient and effective than having firefighters construct line across the steep and rocky terrain.  Helicopters supported firefighters working on the ground and dropped water on less accessible portions of the fire perimeter.  Active flame in the Highway 71 corridor did not pose a threat to the containment lines but is a reminder that the fire is not out yet.  Firefighters continue to patrol the area and will respond to any additional activity.

Adams County Sheriff’s Office has opened the Council-Cuprum Road to through traffic.  Travelers should be aware that this may change dependent upon fire activity and weather conditions.  Please check before traveling through the area.  As a reminder the endowment lands west of Council are closed, and the Payette National Forest closure remains in effect.  Road blocks remain on Mill Creek, Ditch Creek, Wildhorse, and Crooked River Roads to remind travelers to stay on the Council-Cuprum Road.

Area closures are being constantly evaluated by land managers.  Great Basin Team #4 is working with the Payette National Forest, Boise District BLM, Idaho Department of Lands, and the Adams and Washington County Sheriff’s Offices.  The closures will be reduced as soon as it is safe for firefighters and the public.

CLOSURES –  The Idaho Department of Lands asks that everyone stay out of the endowment lands west of Council for their safety until further notice.  And the Payette National Forest’s full closure description and map are available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7163/.  Although Highway 71 and adjacent county roads are open, the burned area remains closed for safety.

MAPS –  An animated map of the fire’s progression is available at https://arcg.is/0vjjL1. 

Woodhead Fire Morning Update

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Contact Fire Information: 208.207.7417 or 2020.woodhead@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7163/ Follow: #WoodheadFire
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLMIdahoFire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/
 
Fire activity increased yesterday afternoon on the Woodhead Fire, producing smoke columns visible through the surrounding area.  With improved mapping, additional fire growth for the past two days is estimated at 2,181 acres.  The fire was most active in the Blue Jay Gulch area in Ditch Creek and in upper Olive Creek.  All helicopters assigned to the fire were at work dropping water on the fire to support firefighters working on the ground.  Two additional helicopters from the Payette and Boise National Forests assisted during the afternoon.

Some firefighting resources are assigned to work throughout the night, and resources are assigned on all portions of the fire perimeter throughout the day.  Today, firefighters will continue to secure the northern end of the fire.  The contained section of the fire, including the Highway 71 corridor, be will patrolled.  Heavy equipment known as masticators are working to grind down vegetation along the eastern dozer line to widen the line and improve its ability to contain the fire should it continue progressing that direction.  (A video of the masticator at work can be seen on InciWeb, https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/video/7163/1/107606.)

Adams County Sheriff’s Office lifted all evacuations for residents in Crooked River, Ditch Creek, and Wildhorse.  Residents only are allowed past the road closure at Mile Marker 12 on the Council-Cuprum Road.  The road may open to non-residents tomorrow, dependent upon fire activity and weather conditions.  Please check before traveling through the area.  As a reminder the endowment lands west of Council are closed, and the Payette National Forest closure remains in effect.

A switch to southwest winds is expected today.  Regional smoke may again enter the area, but it is not expected to be as heavy as it was last week when it limited aviation support to the firefighters.  Tomorrow, the next cold front arrives, bringing high winds, lower temperatures, and a chance for precipitation.

CLOSURES –  The Council-Cuprum Road is closed to non-residents above Upper Dale.  The Idaho Department of Lands asks that everyone stay out of the endowment lands west of Council for their safety until further notice.  And the Payette National Forest’s full closure description and map are available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7163/.  Although Highway 71 and adjacent county roads are open, the burned area remains closed for safety. 

From the Adams County Sheriff's Office: 
West of milepost 12 on Council Cuprum Road to Wildhorse will remain closed to any non-residents until at least 6 am on Wednesday morning. (September 23rd). 

All Level 2 and 3 evacuations have been lifted in Adams County at this time.

Please note that this road closure may change at any time depending on fire activity. 

The Forest Closure remains effective, and Idaho Department of Lands asks that everyone stay out of the endowment lands west of Council for their safety until further notice. See current fire maps at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/maps/7163/.