Headlines:

• California Team 11 (Fogle) has taken command of the Boise Fire as of 7 a.m. today. 

• Traffic control remains in place along the Salmon River Road between Butler Flat and Nordheimer Flat for the safety of firefighters and residents. Expect up to 30-minute delays. 

• Fire information phone: (707) 572-4860 or email at 2024.Boise@firenet.gov 

• Get all your Boise Fire information in one mobile-friendly place! https://linktr.ee/2024boisefiresrf 

• Evacuations are in place for residents near the fire area in Humboldt County. For the most current evacuation information please visit the Boise Fire linktree or visit-- 

           ✓ Humboldt County: https://humboldtgov.org/356/Office-of-Emergency-Services 

           ✓ Siskiyou County: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/emergencyservices 

Leader’s Intent: The Boise Fire is being managed with a full suppression strategy. 

Operational Update: The Boise Fire received 1 ¼ – 1 ½ inches of rain. Today, crews worked on regaining access to the fire area after the rain and assessing needs. Some road system damage was discovered that will need to be repaired in order to reach some areas of the fire. Firefighters plan to improve indirect line near China Creek and Forks of Salmon. Crews will continue to patrol and mop up direct fire lines on the west and south sides of the fire. Crews are also working on gaining access through China Creek and Nordheimer Trail to the fire’s edge. Yesterday, the Incident Command Post moved to Etna. Base camps will remain in Aikens Creek and Forks of Salmon to continue to keep firefighters within reasonable travel time and provide coverage to both sides of the fire area. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Drier weather returns to the area and temperatures are forecast to rise. Fuels will begin to dry out, but not significantly enough for fire behavior to increase much. As conditions continue to dry, fire activity is expected to pick up again as the week goes on.

Limepoint Fire 

Sunday, August 25, 2024 

Contacts for Fire Information:  208-992-3032 or   

 2024.limepoint@firenet.gov 

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idpaf-limepoint-fire  

https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/ 

The Limepoint Fire is holding at its current size and its percentage of containment. Lines are being contained in the Boulder Creek area. Containment lines on the northeastern edge are still being improved with mop up, suppression repair, and hazard tree removal.  

Heavy equipment continued road grading and suppression repair in the Bear and Huntley Gulch areas. Logging equipment is pulling out trees from when dozers put in a contingency line in Huntley Gulch during the early part of the Limepoint Fire. These will be decked and assessed to determine if they can be salvaged as forest products. 

The weather system producing cooler and wetter weather is ending today. Clouds and showers are expected to clear this afternoon. Monday will begin a return to warm and dry conditions, with relative humidity decreasing daily throughout the week. 

With hunting season rapidly approaching, it is important to know where you can and cannot hunt on the Payette National Forest. There are several closures in place due to wildfire. Refer to the Forest’s Alerts and Notifications page for closure orders and maps of closure areas (see below). Know where you can and cannot camp and hunt before you go. 

Evacuations:  Cuprum remains at a Level 1 (READY) evacuation level and Bear evacuations are lifted completely.  

Closures: The Forest Closure Order issued by the Payette National Forest to protect public safety near the fire area remains in effect. For more information about the closure, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/payette/alerts-notices. There is still a lot of work being done in the fire area; for your safety and the safety of firefighters, please stay away until closures are fully lifted. Only residents and property owners are allowed in the area until further notice. 

Restrictions: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions remain in effect for the Payette National Forest and all state, private and BLM lands in the fire area. Under these restrictions, campfires are allowed only in recreation sites within metal fire pits. Fires of any kind are not allowed in any dispersed camping areas. 

Unified Command: CIIMT5 & CAL FIRE 

Fire Size: 3,123 acres

Percent Contained: 0% 

Personnel: 915

Cause: Lightning

Start Date: Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 10:05 AM

Location: Southeast of Three Rivers, CA

COFFEE POT FIRE PUBLIC MEETING: A public meeting about the Coffee Pot Fire will be held on Monday, August 26, at 6:00 PM. The meeting will occur at the Three Rivers Memorial Building, 43490 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers. If you are unable to attend in person, you can watch the meeting live on the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Facebook page @SequoiaKingsNPS or YouTube channel @sequoiaandkingscanyonnps5018.

FIRE INFORMATION: A Public Information Officer will be at the Three Rivers Village Market daily from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM to provide fire information and answer questions.

CURRENT SITUATION: The Coffee Pot Fire increased by 106 acres yesterday as the fire moved slowly downslope. Indirect control lines between South Fork Drive and Cinnamon Gap, and Cinnamon Gap to the top of Case Mountain are nearly complete. Preparation of the indirect control line along South Fork Drive is also near completion.

Today, fire crews and dozers will continue to prioritize the protection of communities, using a full suppression strategy. Fire crews will work to strengthen and widen indirect control lines on the west and south flanks for a planned strategic firing operation. With careful planning alongside our partners, a backing fire, where firefighters will control the fire’s intensity and rate of spread, will be initiated starting at Case Mountain and moving down to South Fork Drive. This will be a multi-day event starting after the current weather system passes. 

WEATHER: Weather remains cooler than average today, sunny with haze and smoke, and higher than average humidity. Temperatures should gradually trend upward by this afternoon. Hot and sunny weather with lower humidity returns for next week, with typical diurnal winds expected. 

SMOKE IMPACTS: Overnight pooling of smoke will begin to lift and disperse by early afternoon. Reduced fire activity improved overnight conditions in most locations. As warmer conditions return today, fire activity will pick up and produce more visible smoke columns in the pockets of heavy downed woody debris. Between Silver City and Mineral King, the increase in activity will result in short durations of conditions that are Unsafe for Sensitive Groups. Regional haze will linger in the forecast area, but visitors and residents can expect improving views of the mountains all day. For more information on current wildfire smoke impacts in your community, please visit AirNow.gov or fire.airnow.gov.

HIGHWAY AND ROAD IMPACTS: Highway 198, Mineral King Road, and Generals Highway in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are open. Due to heavy equipment and personnel working on Mineral King Road, expect 30-minute delays or longer. Please plan accordingly. Visitors should exercise extreme caution, stay alert, and drive slowly to keep themselves and fire crews safe.

BLM AND PARK CLOSURES: The portion of South Fork Drive within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and trails accessed from the road, including the Lady Bug and Garfield Grove Trails, are closed. Park closure information is available online at nps.gov/seki. The Bureau of Land Management has also issued a closure of the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area at blm.gov/press-release.

EVACUATION WARNING: An Evacuation WARNING has been issued for TLC Zones TLC-E128-B and TLC-E094-B, area north of South Fork Drive, East of Skyline Drive (Salt Creek Fire Control Road), South of Mineral King Road, and West of the National Park Boundary. An evacuation WARNING means you should prepare to evacuate the area should the fire approach your home, or, if ordered to do so. Please stay clear and out of the areas affected by the fire. If there is an emergency, please dial 911. For more regarding evacuations, alert notifications, and zone information, please visit tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies.

PUBLIC NOTICE: Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit knowbeforeyoufly.org.

North Art Complex Fire Daily Update – 10:00 AM

Sunday, August 25, 2024

August 25, 2024

Size: 4,313 acres

Containment: 95%

Date Started: August 22, 2024

Cause: Lightning

Structures: At this time crews have not identified any damaged structures.

Evacuations: There are no evacuations in place at this time.

The North Art Complex Fire started on August 22, 2024 approximately 7 miles east of Mason, Texas and 1 mile north of Art, Texas. Local fire departments initially responded to this fire and requested assistance from Texas A&M Forest Service to provide additional resources on August 22, 2024. Texas A&M Forest Service is working in unified command with local fire departments to continue suppressing the North Art Complex Fires. 

Closures: There are no road closures at this time. 

Yesterday: Crews worked to improve existing containments lines through mop up efforts. Additionally, crews patrolled the perimeter of the fire throughout the day and identified and mitigated hazard trees.  

Today: Resources are back on scene again today, improving containment lines, patrolling and monitoring the areas of the fire that have caused concern. Hazardous trees on and across the fireline will be mitigated by crews. Additionally, the crews will continue to patrol and mop up until the fire is 100% contained. Some of the resources on this fire have been reassigned back to their home units so that they can be ready for any new fire starts in the area. These resources will take time to rest their bodies and rehab their equipment so that as new requests for assistance come in, they will be ready to respond.

Weather and Fire Behavior: The weather forecasted for August 25, 2024, is to expect light and variable winds this morning to come from the southeast at 5 to 10 mph by mid to late morning and continue into the afternoon hours. Winds will return to light and variable this evening. The expected relative humidity values are to drop to around 67% by 10 AM, near 50% by noon, and reach a minimum of 33% by midafternoon. Relative Humidity values will then slowly begin to increase this evening, reaching 40% by 8 PM. The expected high temperature is to be around 96 this afternoon. 
 

Fire Information 

Kayla Driver                                                                             Information Officer

Public Information Officer, Texas A&M Forest Service               Texas A&M Forest Service                 

Email: kayla.driver@tfs.tamu.edu                                              information@tfs.tamu.edu         

Phone: 325-304-4914                                                                979-255-0591

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/txtxs-north-art-complex

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllHazardsTFS

Wapiti Fire Update

Sunday, August 25, 2024 – 9:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Phone: 208-593-7132 Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Email: 2024.wapiti@firenet.gov

InciWeb:https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-wapiti-fire

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wapitifireinfo2024/

Information Linktree:https://linktr.ee/WapitiFireInfo2024

Special Notes: Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 (RM CIMT1) will be hosting a community meeting today, August 25, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the Stanley Community Building in Stanley, ID. The meeting will also be streamed live on Wapiti Fire Information 2024 Facebook page.

State Highway 21 is closed from east of Lowman to Stanley (MP84 to MP130) due to wildfire activity. The closure is necessary for public safety and to provide safe conditions for firefighters working along the highway.

Fire managers subdivide the fire perimeter on large complex fires like the Wapiti into branches and divisions to ensure effective management and safer operations. These daily updates will describe the fire’s activities and our suppression actions within these divisions, which are displayed on the accompanying fire maps. Note that branch numbers and division letters don’t always run sequentially to allow for expansion of additional branches/divisions if the fire grows.

Current Situation: Saturday, firefighters got a respite from multiple days of Red Flag Warnings and extreme burning conditions, which allowed them to make good progress on assessing current conditions and developing strategic suppression plans. Meanwhile, they continue to protect structures near the fire. The fire is now 68,457 acres and has progressed south of Stanley Lake, moving east towards Highway 21. It has also established itself in the Baron Creek drainage southwest of Stanley. The current focus is to continue protecting structures and communities with dozer and hand lines, air resources, and hose lays to protect the values at risk. This is a full suppression fire, and opportunities to contain the fire’s edge with control lines will be aggressively pursued where appropriate and safe to do so as additional resources arrive on the incident.

Division KK and Structure Group East: Crews will continue to mop up around structures in the Cow Camp area. The structure group in this division is constructing lines around Halstead, Iron Creek, Goat Falls, and Stanley communities using dozers and hand line and tying them into Highways 21 and 75. All activities are being coordinated on the ground with Resource Advisors to protect known values. These firelines will then be plumbed with hose lays, water tanks, pumps, and sprinkler systems for structure protection. Fire managers will look for opportunities to construct containment lines to check the fire’s progress south.

Division PP: Work continues to clear trees along the Highway 21 corridor and mop up the areas where the fire crossed the road. The objective is to open the road for safe travel for incident resources, mop up around structures, and establish containment lines to prevent future fire growth. Fire spread was limited on Saturday within this area, and today fire behavior should continue to be muted allowing for continued progress towards containment.

Division MM: Fire managers are assessing locations for constructing containment lines to arrest the north and northwest progression of the fire and working on point protection around structures within the area.

Division WW and Structure Group West: A UAS (Unmanned Aerial System, or drone) was used in the Warms Springs drainage to evaluate the fire’s progress west and identify opportunities for aerial ignition under controlled conditions to bring the fire down to the bottom of the drainage and contain it. There are no plans currently to initiate a firing operation in this area. Crews continue mopping up around structures to further secure them in the event fire activity increases. Fire managers are working with the Lowman Fire Chief to assess values at risk, point protection needs, and containment opportunities in that area between Warm Springs and Lowman along the Highway 21 corridor.

Weather, Fuels, and Fire Behavior:

A cold upper-level low pressure system will slowly depart Central Idaho today, with a 25% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms. The fire’s behavior will be substantially moderated again today with limited fire spread, and no appreciable growth of the fire is expected.

Evacuations:

For evacuation information on the Wapiti Fire, please see the Custer County Sheriff’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Custer-County-Sheriff-Idaho-61558947312289/ and the Boise County Sheriff’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/boisecountysheriff/ .

Red Cross is set up in the Stanley Community Center to assist fire evacuees.

To sign up for Custer County CodeRED emergency notifications, text CUSTER to 99411 or enroll online at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/BF28E45537FF .

Closures and Fire Restrictions:

State Highway 21 is closed from MP84 to MP130 for public and firefighter safety.

A Wapiti Fire Area Closure / Forest Order: 0402-05-95 for portions of the Boise, Sawtooth, and Salmon-Chalis National Forests can be found at this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices .

Boise National Forest Stage 1 Fire Restrictions / Forest Order: 0402-00-63 can be found at this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices .

Sawtooth National Forest Stage 1 Fire Restrictions / Forest Order 0414-00-044 can be found at this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sawtooth/alerts-notices .

Fire restrictions on state and private lands may be found at this site: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/ .

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Wapiti Fire. Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Wapiti Fire Statistics:

Size: over 68,457 acres

Containment: 0%

Total Personnel: 461

Location: Grandjean, ID

Reported: July 24, 2024

Cause: lightning

For More Information:

Information Phone: 208-593-7132

Email: 2024.wapiti@firenet.gov

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-wapiti-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wapitifireinfo2024/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/WapitiFireInfo2024

August 25, 2024

Email: 2024.flat@firenet.gov

Incident Information Phone Line: 208-923-1265 - Daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Flat Fire Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IdahoDepartmentofLands

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idids-2024-flat

Smoke Report: https://www.airnow.gov

Flat Fire Facts

Location: Approximately one mile northeast of Pioneerville in Boise County, Idaho

Reported: August 5, 2024; Cause: Lightning/Natural

Acres: 3,734; Containment: 61%

Fuels: Timber with grass and understory

Personnel: 347 (7 hand crews, 8 engines, 6 water tenders, 1 dozer, 3 masticators and 3 helicopters)

Highlights: Yesterday there was very little fire activity on the Flat Fire due to cooler weather, scattered showers and multiple successful suppression efforts. Fire crews completed mop-up, pulled excess fire equipment and continued suppression repair efforts including chipping up downed timber, and installing water bars to prevent erosion. Similar efforts will continue today. 

Excess resources on the Flat Fire will be released to support nearby incidents, or return to their home unit for rest days before returning to work. The Flat Fire will retain necessary resources to monitor and patrol the fire perimeter along the 2016 Pioneer Fire Burn Scar and address hot spots if found.  

Although we have been experiencing lower temperatures and minimal precipitation, a warming and drying trend is expected as we head into the next week and Labor Day weekend. Currently, much of Idaho is under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions including lands within the boundary of the Boise National Forest. More information on Fire Restrictions across the state of Idaho can be found at: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/. 

Fire Behavior and Weather: A Pacific storm system is moving across the Pacific Northwest. Moisture and relative humidity (RH) will increase, along with isolated to scattered rain showers. Chances of wetting rains are low, with showers being light in nature. Cooler temperatures and RH above 30% expected on Sunday. Dry and warm weather conditions return later this week. 

Road and Trail Closures and Restrictions: The Boise National Forest has implemented an Area Closure for the Flat Fire. See link for additional information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices. The Summit Flat Road (#380) between Pioneerville and Coulter Summit and FS Road 379 (Elk Creek Road) is closed for public and firefighter safety.

Fires Burning in the Vicinity: There are other fires burning north of the Flat Fire. See link for additional information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-middle-fork-complex-fire-bulldog-nellie-anderson.

###

West Mountain Complex
Boulder, Snag, Goat, Wolf Creek, Dollar
August 25, 2024 

Fire Information Phone Line 208-462-0345 (8 a.m. - 8 p.m.) 
2024.Boulder.id@firenet.gov | 2024.WolfCreek@firenet.gov I 2024.Snag@firenet.gov I 2024.Dollar@firenet.gov

QUICK FACTS

Fire                      Location                                          Size                      Containment        Start Date

Boulder               9 miles SW of Cascade                  2,313 acres                    44%              7/24/2024

Wolf Creek          5 miles W of Donnelly                    1,154 acres                     95%              7/24/2024

Snag                     11 miles E of Cascade                    25,235 acres                    3%                 8/5/2024

Dollar                   18 miles NE of Cascade                 2,665 acres                      0%                8/5/2024

Goat                     11 miles SE of Cascade                  1,963 acres                      0%                 8/5/2024
 

Cause: Lightning (All Fires)

Total Incident Personnel: 1,073

Army crews from the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion based at Joint Base Lewis McChord are currently assisting with suppression efforts on the West Mountain Complex.

Weather | Anticipated Fire Behavior: 

All fires experienced light precipitation yesterday as a low-pressure cold front moved from the southwest toward the northeast. Winds will shift and come from the northwest today. Scattered thunderstorms will linger in the area but are not expected to produce moisture. Fire behavior is expected to be reduced by the overcast skies today, but scarce moisture will have little to no impact on heavy fuels currently smoldering and burning. 

Boulder Fire:                                                                                               
https://tinyurl.com/ycdfv3tv

Firefighters with integrated Army crews continued to mop-up hot spots using hose lays along the southern boundary.  Chippers are being used to reduce the buildup of unburned vegetation on the unburned side of the control lines to mitigate any future possibility of new spot fires. Firefighters will continue to look for opportunities to use firing tactics to remove unburned islands of vegetation inside containment lines. Active fire is still persistent along the fire’s northern and smoldering is expected to last for days to come.

Dollar Fire:                                                                                                    
https://tinyurl.com/bef6r3tz

The progress of the Dollar Fire is limited to the west by rocky terrain and an area of previously burned vegetation is slowing the spread of the fire’s perimeter to the east. Crews prepped and plumbed contingency lines on the southwest side, in anticipation of firing operations, weather and conditions permitting. Firefighters worked to contain active fire in the northern reaches to limit any forward movement near the Payette National Forest boundary. 

Snag Fire:                                                                                                   
https://tinyurl.com/4k9dk3mu

The active fire to the north of Warm Lake Road was secured within control lines along with direct and indirect suppression tactics. Additionally, Army crews helped improve indirect fire line while patrolling and mopping up hot spots. Previously burned fuels to the west are helping to prevent westward growth. The spot fires to the south from a few days ago are all confined behind control lines developed along old logging roads. Firing operations to secure the boundary will be conducted in future days when weather permits. Today, crews expect to increase containment efforts along the southwest flank of the fire.

Wolf Creek Fire:                                                                                         
https://tinyurl.com/mcksrfvh

Crews will continue to complete suppression repair and rehabilitation on the Wolf Creek Fire over the next several days. Resource Advisors are on the fire ensuring that planned environmental rehabilitation measures are carried out effectively on the fire line after suppression efforts take place.                                                                                                                                                                          

Goat Fire:                                                                                                    
https://tinyurl.com/2h4a3dvr

Areas of previously burned fuels, such as the Cascade Complex to the north and the East Fire beyond the eastern boundary, continue to limit fire growth in either of these directions. Firefighters will continue to evaluate values at risk to the south of the fire to minimize impacts and develop long-term planning strategies.

Other regional fire information: 

Middle Fork Complex (Nellie, Anderson, and Bulldog Fire): https://tinyurl.com/3rhawr5y 

Wapiti Fire: https://tinyurl.com/yf7reydj 

Bulltrout Fire: https://tinyurl.com/tatwwk5t 

SNAG FIRE EVACUATION INFORMATION

The Valley County Sheriff’s Office issued a “ready” evacuation order for Warm Lake residents and the North Shore Lodge at Warm Lake on August 7. The map can be found on Inciweb: https://tinyurl.com/42auxnk8. A second “ready” evacuation order was issued on August 8 for the Horsethief area, including the YMCA Camp, and areas of Scott Valley. This map can also be found on Inciweb, with the relevant areas outlined in purple:  https://tinyurl.com/4vfj657x

Review the READY, SET, GO evacuation procedure for Valley County: https://www.co.valley.id.us/ReadySetGo

For timely information on evacuations, check out your county’s emergency alert system. 

• Valley County: https://www.co.valley.id.us/CompleteEmergencyNotificationandAlerting
• Adams County: https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/PublicUser.aspx?regionid=1077

ROAD CLOSURES

Warm Lake Highway Closure: The Valley County Sheriff’s Office is planning to allow residents and vetted contractors (those providing services to residents in the Warm Lake, Yellow Pine, and Big Creek areas) to come and go as needed without an escort along the Warm Lake Highway, dependent on weather and fire activity. The highway remains closed to the public and will only be open to those approved in advance by the Sheriff’s Office. For updates on county closures visit: https://www.co.valley.id.us/departments/SheriffsOffice.

FOREST CLOSURES

Hunting Closures: Prior to entering the backcountry, Idaho Fish and Game advises hunters to check with their local Forest Service ranger district offices or county sheriffs’ offices for fire closures in their hunt areas. For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/4td8hwzc

The Boise National Forest modified or expanded their wildfire closures on August 12, 2024, to address public and firefighter safety and respond to increased wildfire growth. This closure area begins at the south end of the Dollar/Oro (Snag) fire closure area and continues south to Crouch and the Banks-Lowman Hwy, and east to the 579, 563 and 582 roads.

Dollar Fire Closure: The Payette National Forest implemented an area closure on August 23, covering an area north of the Boise National Forest closure, to provide for public safety around the Dollar Fire. National Forest System trails #099, #100, #101, and #302 are impacted by the closure. 

Wolf Creek Fire Closures: On the Payette National Forest, a closure includes popular National Forest System roads around the Wolf Creek fire such as: sections of NFS Road #1763 (West Mountain Jeep Trail), #835, #206, and #326. On the Boise National Forest, Forest Road #435 (Anderson Lake Road) was closed on August 1. 

Boulder Fire Closures: The Boise National Forest has issued a closure order #0402-04-98 for National Forest System (NFS) roads, trails and lands encompassing the Boulder Fire. The closure was enacted to protect public safety and support fire suppression activities. The closure includes Blue Lake and Snowbank Mountain Road (#446) along with all #404 and #421 system roads. 

For maps and more detailed descriptions of the closures on the Payette National Forest, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/payette/alerts-notices

For maps and more detailed descriptions of the closures on the Boise National Forest, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices 

Fire Restrictions: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions have been issued for the Payette Fire Restrictions Area on the Payette National Forest and the West Central Mountains Fire Restrictions Area on the Boise National Forest. For more information on the restrictions and a very helpful interactive map, visit https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/

Important Links

• Payette National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/payette
• Payette National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PayetteNationalForest
• Boise National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/boise
• Boise National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoiseNationalForest
• Idaho Department of Lands: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/

Park Fire Evening Update for August 24 is posted on the Park Fire Status Update Page

Key Message  

The Remington Fire, discovered on Thursday, August 22 at approximately 8 a.m. 20 miles northeast of Leiter, Wyoming, has rapidly spread across the Montana border. The DNRC County Assist Team assumed command of the northern end of the fire on this morning at 6 a.m. The fire is currently 130,000 acres and is burning in short grass and timber on BLM, Forest Service, Wyoming state, Montana state, and privately-owned lands. 

Current Status

An Infrared Awareness Assessment (IAA) flight and ground assessments have provided more accurate mapping of the fire perimeter. Last night, crews conducted burnout operations by intentionally setting a controlled fire to consume fuel ahead of advancing flames, creating a barrier to stop the forward spread of fire on the eastern edge. The fire is being held east of the Tongue River near Birney using direct fire suppression and burnout operations on the north end near Odell Creek and Poker Jim Road. Crews are constructing direct line around the western flank of the fire and utilizing heavy equipment to build line on the east side of the fire to the Wyoming State line. 

Weather and Fire Behavior

A red flag warning is in effect from 10 a.m. to midnight. Extreme weather is expected, with highs in the upper 90s and wind speeds up to 15 mph. A cold front is anticipated this evening, accompanied by 20-30 mph winds. 

PRE-Evacuations And Closures

The reservoir is closed to all watercraft, but the Tongue River Reservoir State Park campground is open under an evacuation warning. 

Pre-evacuation warnings have been issued by the Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office for several areas, including Birney Road south of Ashland, the town of Birney, East Fork of Hanging Woman Creek Road, and all of Tongue River Road to the County Line. The Bureau of Land Management also issued pre-evacuation warnings for East-Fork Hanging Woman Road to the Rosebud County line, Odell Creek Road to Ashland/Birney South and Birney. 

A temporary shelter is available at the Boys and Girls Club in Lame Deer for all impacted by the fire. Please avoid the Tongue River Road between Ashland and Birney for firefighter safety.

McElwain Fire

Southwestern Land Office

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Fire Protection - Clearwater Unit 

USDI Bureau of Land Management Jurisdiction 

Fire Information: Kristin Mortenson (406) 381-7451, Kristin.Mortenson@mt.gov

Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 12 p.m.

Location: 6 miles west of Helmville, Montana

Start Date: 8/23/2024   

Cause: Undetermined

Size: 107 acres

Containment: 0%

CURRENT STATUS

The McElwain Fire, located by McElwain Creek 6 miles west of Helmville in Powell County is currently 107 acres in size. The fire is burning in grass and timber on private and Bureau of Land Management land under Montana DNRC wildland fire protection. The Fire is comprised of two adjacent fires, a north fire, and a south fire. Control line has been established by heavy equipment around the south fire and work will continue today to improve that line. Access to the north fire is difficult for heavy equipment, so firefighters will also be focusing on improving that. 

A Type 3 Incident Commander (IC) is in place and multiple resources are committed to the incident including four engines, one Type 2 hand crew, two water tenders, three skidgines, two dozers, and one Type 2 DNRC helicopter. A reconnaissance of the area is being flown by the IC today.  The cause of the fire remains undetermined.

WEATHER

Saturday will be partly cloudy with slight chance of showers. Hazy conditions will persist in the afternoon. Temperatures will be in the mid-70’s with westerly winds ranging from 5-15 mph. Low chance of wetting rain today or Sunday, but higher relative humidities in the area will help moderate fire behavior. Winds are expected to decrease Sunday, which will also be welcome news for firefighters.

EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES

The Powell County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation warnings to residents in the immediate area of the fire, specifically the Ledger Road area. This is a limited warning for residents in the immediate area. Please visit the Powell County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for specific information and updates.

ADDITIONAL AREA FIRES

The Hoodoo Fire is a two to three-acre lightning caused fire on Hoodoo Mountain southeast of Helmville burning in heavy dead and down timber in steep and difficult to access terrain. Strong winds prohibited delivery of aerial firefighters (heli-rappelers and smokejumpers) Friday, but bucket drops by a Type 2 helicopter as weather allowed were able to dampen the fire. Fire managers are planning to use heli-rappelers (firefighters that rappel out of a helicopter near the fire) to fight the fire if weather conditions allow. The Weasel Fire, just west of the McElwain Fire, is another suspected lightning start and is 0.1 acres. Firefighters are still working to access that fire from the ground. Both fires are on BLM land under DNRC wildland fire protection. An additional fire south of Elevation Mountain in the Top O’ Deep area was detected earlier today and resources are enroute.

Powell County is currently in Stage 1 fire restrictions. Residents and visitors are asked to be extra careful when outdoors to limit human caused sparks. We cannot control the lightning, but we can prevent unintended human caused wildfires. Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for specific fire restriction information and fire prevention tips.

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