Limepoint and Cliff Mountain Fires

Fire Information 208-992-3032

2024.limepoint@firenet.gov

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

Cliff Mountain: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idpaf-cliff-mountain

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

Thursday, August 8, 2024

The Limepoint and Cliff Mountain Fires are burning in the Hells Canyon area, located on the Payette National Forest in west-central Idaho, east of the Snake River bordering Oregon.

Note: Tomorrow, Friday August 9, a public update about the Limepoint and Cliff Mountain Fires will be held at 7:00 pm via Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/). 

Limepoint Fire

The Limepoint Fire is west of Cuprum and Bear communities to the Snake River in Adams County, Idaho and was started by lightning on July 24th, burning in tall grass, brush and timber. The southern part of the fire was once a smaller, separate fire named the Oxbow Fire, but both fires burned together and are now collectively known as the Limepoint Fire. It is now 26,795 acres (an increase of 874 acres) with 10 percent containment. The fire threatens homes in several areas, including Cuprum, Bear, Wildhorse, Paradise Flat and Ditch Creek. Idaho Power transmission lines to the south of the fire are threatened. 

Yesterday fire behavior was moderate, and firefighters held firelines with the help of helicopters. Good progress was made holding and improving firelines at the south end of the fire. Structure protection remains in place in Bear, Cuprum, Paradise Flat, Ditch Creek, Wildhorse, Mill Creek and OX Ranch. 

On the northern flank, heat was observed in scattered timber with active runs. Helicopters helped reduce fire spread in this area and crews extinguished hot spots overnight. The contingency line along Grassy Ridge is complete and the road to Sheep Rock was improved. 

On the eastern flank, crews conducted mop up and held a fireline north of Boulder Creek. Firefighters observed heat and smoke in this area, where a pocket of green vegetation continues to burn. Engines mopped up areas of heat on the west side of Cuprum. Structure protection specialists identified additional structures to protect in Bear.

On the southeastern flank firefighters continued to improve fireline in the Flat Creek and Elk Creek areas. Firefighters flew over this area and observed no fire activity and much of the fireline in this area is considered contained. 

The southwestern flank near Oxbow and western flank along Forest Road 454 (Hells Canyon Road) south of Big Bar had minimal fire activity yesterday. Several areas along the Snake River on the western flank are contained.

14 hand crews, 26 engines, seven bulldozers, three helicopters, two skidders, four masticators, five feller-bunchers, one excavator, and 644 people are working on the Limepoint Fire. On the northern flank, crews will continue to maintain firelines. Fire in heavy timber is expected to be slowed by areas of regrowth and old fire footprints. Firefighters are improving fireline throughout this area to prepare for strategic burning operations at the northernmost area of the fire, which may span over several days. This operation may begin today by firing south of Grassy Ridge and helicopters will use water to pretreat the area to prevent fire spotting over the line. Firefighters will also look at burning south from Horse Mountain Lookout this afternoon, to secure the line from the lookout towards Cuprum. A drone may be used for aerial ignition in these areas. 

On the eastern flank, crews will continue mopping up and securing fireline north of Boulder Creek and along Forest Road 071. They will also continue improving a contingency fireline west of Bear and lengthening this contingency fireline north toward Black Lake Road using bulldozers, a feller buncher and other heavy equipment. Firefighters continue to monitor hot spots along Indian Creek up to Cuprum. Structure protection specialists will protect additional structures in Bear.

On the southeastern flank, hotshot crews will continue to improve and mop up handlines and bulldozer lines to hold the fire within lines in the Flat Creek and Bear Creek drainage. 

On the western flank, due to lack of fire activity along the Snake River, firefighters and equipment will be reassigned to other priority areas of the fire today.  

Cliff Mountain Fire

The Cliff Mountain Fire started by lightning on July 25th in Hells Canyon National Recreation Area in wilderness just below Hells Canyon Dam 25 miles east of Joseph, Oregon in Adams and Idaho Counties, Idaho. It also was once two fires, the Muddy Fire and the Cliff Mountain Fire, which burned into each other. It is 1,108 acres with 20 percent containment, burning mostly in wilderness, with growth slowed in some areas due to steep rocks. Hells Canyon Dam and associated powerlines are threatened by the fire. Minimal fire activity was observed in the interior of this fire yesterday. No personnel are assigned to the fire. 

Weather/Fire Behavior: Today is forecasted to be warm with increasing cloud cover, with a slight chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs will be in the upper-80s, while relative humidity will be 10-15%. Downslope northeast winds in the morning will become west-northwest by late morning with gusts near 15 mph during the afternoon. 

Dead and down fuels will continue to dry, making all types of vegetation available to burn. In heavy grass, a new start could burn 440 acres in an hour if undetected. Minimal fire activity is expected today along the Snake River north of Oxbow; however, material could continue to roll down onto Hells Canyon Road. In the northern, eastern, and southern flanks of the fire, interior burning and spotting is likely, although fire activity is expected to be minimal. The Cliff Mountain Fire is expected to have minimal fire activity.

Air quality information is available at www.airnow.gov and www.wildlandfiresmoke.net. 

Evacuations: Level 3 (Go Now!) evacuations are still in effect for Cuprum, Bear, Wildhorse and Barber Flats per Adams County Sheriff’s Office. A Level 2 (Get Set - Be prepared to leave) evacuation notice is in effect for Ditch Creek and Paradise Flat, and a Level 1 (Get Ready) is in effect for Mill Creek. If you have evacuated areas under Level 3 evacuations, please do not go back. Fire personnel work closely with the sheriff’s office with recommendations to reenter evacuated areas when safe to do so.

Closures and Restrictions: The Payette National Forest issued a Forest Closure to protect public safety during the Limepoint and Cliff Mountain wildfires. The closure includes, but is not limited to, the following recreation areas: Big Bar, Black Lake, Sheep Rock, Kinney Point and Horse Mountain Lookout. Huckleberry Campground is also closed. For more information, see the full closure order and map at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/payette/fire.

Kleinschmidt Grade (Forest Road 050), Calf Pen Road and Landore Road are closed. The Council-Cuprum Road is closed at the Forest boundary at the snowmobile parking lot. Forest Road 454, which runs along the river, is open, but please drive with caution. You may see active fire, rolling debris, firefighting equipment and firefighters on and along the road. For your safety and the safety of firefighters, do not stop on the road.

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

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect for the Payette National Forest and all state, private and BLM lands in the fire area. Prohibited: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site, or on your own land, and only within a permanent landowner-provided structure; and smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

Fire Location:

• Wapiti: 2 miles SE of Grandjean 
• Bulltrout: 35 miles NE of Lowman 

Size: 

• Wapiti: 1337 acres  
• Bulltrout: 271 acres 

Containment: 

• Wapiti: 0% 
• Bulltrout: 74% 

Personnel: 

• Wapiti: 64
• Bulltrout: 96

Start Date:

• Wapiti: 7/24/2024 
• Bulltrout:7/25/2024 

Cause:

• Lightning

Incident Commander: 

• Mike Johnston, Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team #7 

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Summary: The Wapiti and Bulltrout fires resulted from a lightning storm on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.On July 31st an incident management team was delegated the West Mountain Complex which includes the Boulder, Wapiti and Bulltrout Fires on the Boise National Forest and the Wolf Creek Fire on the Payette National Forest. A full suppression strategy is being utilized on these lightning-caused fires. Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority for fire managers. 

Weather | Anticipated Fire Behavior: Temperatures in the fire areas will remain in the 70s, with relative humidities rising slightly to 17-25%. Wind speeds will drop slightly from yesterday, with gusts of 15 mph. Downslope winds are expected in the morning, followed by upslope winds in the afternoon. Winds pushing to the southeast are possible, which could push the fire towards more dense vegetation. Dry thunderstorms are anticipated in the area over the weekend, with low chances of substantial moisture in the coming days. 

Actions:  Resources are identified and prepared for initial attack. Aircraft will be ready to support firefighters on the ground for any new fire starts. The Cascade area received several new fire starts on Monday evening on both the Boise and Payette National Forests. Alongside the local unit, the Incident Management Team is coordinating shared resources to staff those new starts. Great Basin Team #7 assumed command of two of those new starts, the Dollar and Snag fires at 6:00 AM today. Firefighter and public safety as well as the protection of values at risk remains the top priority of the team through all suppression efforts. 

Wapiti Fire: Firefighting crews remain engaged in implementing appropriate tactics give the fuel and terrain with the highest probability of success protecting the private property in the area. Yesterday, crews began firing operations to direct the fire away from private property and denser pockets of vegetation. Firing operations are used by wildfire managers to achieve suppression objectives by burning off unburned fuels between the current fire footprint and the primary containment lines. This firing operation has several days of careful planning between cooperators, agency administrators, incident commanders and on-the-ground overhead staff and crews. Crews will continue firing operations, as well as other strategies, to best protect nearby values at risk while keeping firefighters and the public safe. 

Bulltrout Fire: The Bulltrout Fire remains in patrol status. Firefighting crews continue to mop up and repair the disturbance that has resulted from suppression actions.

Important Information: For the Wapiti Fire, the Boise and Sawtooth National Forests have issued a closure order for roads, trails and lands encompassing the Wapiti Fire. The closure was enacted to protect public safety and support fire suppression activities. The closure affects interior travel on several National Forest System roads such as NFS Grandjean Road #524 and the Warm Springs Air Strip. Additional information about these closures can be found at https://tinyurl.com/2u8v3pf7

For the Bulltrout Fire, the Boise and Salmon‐Challis National Forests have issued a closure order for roads, trails and lands encompassing the Bulltrout Fire. The closure was enacted to protect public safety and support fire suppression activities. This closure includes National Forest System (NFS) Roads #579, #582 and several others. There are no disruptions in access to the Boundary Creek Boat Launch.  NFS Road #579 is open in its entirety from Highway 21 to NFS Road #568 to the Boundary Creek Boat Launch. Risk to responders and public safety remain the highest priority for the incident management team. Additional information about these closures can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/2u8v3pf7. The Boise National Forest is working on a reduction on the closure order area. This information will be shared when the new order is finalized. 

The evacuation of the Grandjean area and the Sawtooth Lodge remains in place and the incident management team is in close coordination with the Boise County Sheriff’s Office.

For timely information on evacuations, check out your county’s emergency alert system.  For Boise County, sign up for notifications from Alert Sense at: https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/?regionid=1163.

Both fires are adjacent to Highway 21 which is a popular travel route in Central Idaho. With the influx of vehicles in the area from fire and support personnel, please use extreme caution when traveling along Highway 21 between Stanley and Lowman, to help ensure fire crews safety while working. 

The Boise National Forest, Idaho Department of Lands, and Bureau of Land Management are in Stage 1 fire restrictions on state, endowment, private and federal lands within the West Central Mountains Fire Restrictions Zone. For more information on the restrictions and a map visit: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/ 

Fire 

Western Idaho and eastern Oregon fires are significantly influencing AQI, especially the Paddock Fire north of Emmett. For more information on Limepoint/Cliff Mountain fire and other wildfire incidents, please visit Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ and the NASA FIRMs site: https://firms2.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/usfs/map/#d:2024- 08-06..2024-08-07;@-115.4,44.1,8.3z 

Smoke 

Morning down-terrain surface winds will push smoke from the Limepoint Fire SW down the Snake River corridor then shift mid to late morning to a more W-NW direction as the day progresses. The Town Gulch Fire (Oregon) continues to increase burned acreage and will impact Halfway, Oregon with AQI moderating between VUNH and USG. Midday westerlies will shift to winds from the NW in the late afternoon impacting Cascade, Idaho City, Boise, and Garden Valley - all in the UNH to VUNH range. The rest of the Outlook area should result in MODERATE today.

Containment increases on the Crazy Creek Fire; Fire area inversion moderates fire behavior 

Daily Update August 8, 2024

Fire Information Phone:541-208-1768 (8am-8pm)

Media Information Phone:541-208-1770 (8am-8pm)

Email: 2024.crazycreek@firenet.gov

Acres: Crazy Creek – 78,495; 498/Kitty Creek – 73 
Acreage changes may occur due to overnight operations and infrared mapping.

Location: Crazy Creek: 5 miles north of Paulina, OR                      Start Date: July 22, 2024 

           498/Kitty Creek: 7 miles south of Mitchell, OR                     Personnel: 665 

Containment: Crazy Creek 28%; 498/Kitty Creek 100%                Fuels: Timber and short grass

Resources: 15 crews | 1 helicopter | 33 engines | 15 bulldozers | 14 water tenders | 3 masticators | 25 skid steers

Highlights: Containment increased on the western and southern perimeters of the Crazy Creek Fire. A heavy inversion remained across the fire area well into Wednesday afternoon, helping moderate fire activity. Pockets of unburned fuel will continue to ignite as hot, dry conditions and light winds persist and inversions lifts.

Fire Activity: On Wednesday, August 7, crews worked through the day and night, patrolling, monitoring and moping up hotspots along the western and northern perimeter of the Crazy Creek Fire. Further south, crews held containment lines fired by night shift. 

Today, ground and air resources remain at the ready as increased fire activity can occur where fuels, terrain and topography align amid the persistent hot, dry weather conditions. Lookouts will maintain a close eye on Forest Service Road 12 and constructed containment lines between Toggle Meadows and Cottonwood Pit Campground, securing firing operations that occurred overnight. Along the southern end of the fire, firefighters continue to secure Forest Service Road 5810 to protect the recreation infrastructure within the Sugar Creek Campground area and Salters Cabin.

Evacuations: Evacuation orders remain in effect for areas in Crook and Wheeler Counties for areas in or near the fire. Level 3 evacuations have extended from the Forest Boundary to Highway 380. Level 2 evacuations have extended south of Highway 380. For further information, please refer to the Crook County Office of Emergency Management evacuation map. 

 

Weather: The fire area will have hot, dry weather with light winds with temperatures in the high 80s-low 90s. 

Importance of Fire Prevention: All public lands in Central Oregon, to include the Ochoco National Forest are in Stage 2 Public Use (Fire) Restrictions. All open flames, including woodstoves and charcoal briquette fires are prohibited. In times of high fire danger, it is crucial for everyone to follow fire prevention measures to avoid additional strain on overburdened resources. The public's cooperation in adhering to fire bans and restrictions is vital to prevent new fires from starting and to help our firefighters focus on containing the existing fires. Learn more at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ochoco/alerts-notices/?aid=89068. 

Fire Restrictions and Closures: The Ochoco National Forest has implemented a forest closure for the Paulina Ranger District. More information can be found at fs.usda.gov/alerts/ochoco/alerts-notices/?aid=89203. Bureau of Land Management has issued a temporary closure for public lands in Crook and Grant Counties. More information is available at https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-08/orwa-fpo-pri-paulina-080224.pdf. 

 

More Information:

InciWeb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orocf-crazy-creek

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5 

Central Oregon Wildfire Information: https://centraloregonfire.org/ 

Crook County Emergency Information Map: https://arcg.is/1ij0vb 

Paint Crossing Fire Daily Update

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

August 7, 2024

Size: 1,000 acres

Containment: 30%

Date Started: August 7, 2024

Cause: Under investigation

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

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

The Paint Crossing Fire started on August 7, 2024, and initially was responded to by local fire departments from Throckmorton County. Texas A&M Forest Service was requested for assistance at 3:00 p.m. and responded with aviation resources, heavy equipment, and engines from Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS). Texas A&M Forest Service is currently in unified command with Throckmorton County fire departments.

Closures: There are no road closures at this time. 

Today: Crews have been working throughout the afternoon and will continue until the night, using heavy equipment to construct containment lines around the edge of the fire. Equipment is pushing all grass, brush, and trees away from the fires edge to create a physical barrier for fire as well as creating a path for engines and other fire resources to patrol around the fire and put out areas of heat. Firefighters are making good progress, but it is taking time due to difficult terrain and high temperatures. Work will carry on into the night to take advantage of cooler temperatures and lower fire activity, allowing resources to construct additional containment lines.

Tomorrow: Additional resources will be back on in the morning, taking over for the current resources in constructing containment lines and putting out areas of heat along the fires edge. Crews will patrol and monitor the fire area after completing containment lines, searching for any threats to the line and opportunities to improve containment lines. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Temperatures are expected to remain extremely high again tomorrow. Winds and relative humidity will be very similar tomorrow as well creating continued fire danger throughout the area. This fire has been showing active fire behavior with rapid fire growth and occasional tree torching, fire behavior that can be difficult for firefighters to put out and contain. 

Fire Information 

Adam Turner                                                                                Information Officer

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

Email: adam.turner@tfs.tamu.edu                                                 information@tfs.tamu.edu         

Phone: 940-328-9158                                                                979-255-0591

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/txtxs-paint-crossing

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllHazardsTFS

Evening of Wednesday, August 7, 2024 
For more information on the Park Fire, please visit: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calnf-park-fire  

Size: 422,924 acres with 34% containment | Personnel: 6,616  

Lassen National Forest: 

Today, the #ParkFire continued to experience heightened activity due to adverse weather conditions and dry fuels. Firefighters employed direct suppression tactics supported by aircraft wherever feasible. 

Crews and aircraft will continue their efforts overnight to hold the fire within the perimeter.  The fire continues to be fought with a strong and coordinated response from all our partners. The #ParkFire has burned 107,116 acres on the Lassen National Forest. 

CAL FIRE: 

The Park Fire is burning primarily in dry, thick timber with heavy dead and down fuels. Low relative humidity contributed to significant fire behavior today, including slope-aligned runs and frequent spotting. 

Poor humidity recovery will allow for active burning and possible extreme fire behavior throughout the night. 

Fire crews continue to battle steep drainages and high heat, working tirelessly to construct direct and indirect line in their firefighting efforts. 

Repopulation is occurring in the lower portion of the fire. Please remain diligent of crews and equipment working in the area. 

For more information on the Park Fire please visit:  

• CALFIRE Park Fire: https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/24/park-fire  
• CAL FIRE Shasta-Trinity Unit/Shasta County Fire Department: https://www.facebook.com/CALFIRESHU  
• CAL FIRE Tehama-Glenn Unit/ Tehama County Fire Dept: https://www.facebook.com/CALFIRETGU  
• Butte County, CA: https://www.facebook.com/ButteCounty 
• Butte County Sheriff: https://www.facebook.com/bcsonews 
• Plumas County Sheriff: https://www.facebook.com/plumascountysheriff  
• Shasta County Sheriff: https://www.facebook.com/ShastaSheriff  
• Tehama County Sheriff: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088640404140   

Forest Order: 06-03-03-24-02 Williams Mine Area and Road Closure

GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST

Mount Adams Ranger District Trout Lake, Washington

WILLIAMS MINE AREA AND ROAD CLOSURE

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(a), the following acts are prohibited on the area described in this order and depicted on Exhibit A, within and/or administered by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mount Adams Ranger District, until further notice:

1. Going into or being upon the area affected by the Williams Mine Fire (36 CFR 261.52(e))
2. Being on a road. [36 CFR § 261.54(e)].

Area Closure:

The following description serves as the exterior boundary and closes all lands encompassed within it as depicted in attached Exhibit A:

From a point of beginning, E. of the intersection of National Forest System (NFS) and Road 2300 (posted 23) with the south boundary of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest (GPNF), in the SE corner of Section 33, T7N, R10E, then E about 5 ¼ miles along the south boundary of the GPNF to the SE corner of Section 32, T7N, R11E, then N about a half-mile along the E section line of Section 32, T7N, R11E, then again E through the middle of Section 33 of T7N, R11E to its E section line then approximately 19 miles N along the boundary of the GPNF to the NFS Road 5603 in Section PB47 T10N, R11E then approximately 2 miles NW along the S side of NFS Road 5603 to the junction with the NFS Road 2329, then approximately 2 miles S along the E side of NFS road 2329 to the junction with NFS Road 2329087 in the NE ¼ of Section 34 T10N, R10E, then west and south along the Mount Adams Wilderness boundary to the NFS Road 2300 in the NW ¼ of Section 30, T9N, R10E then S along the E side of NFS Road 2300 about 14 miles to point of beginning.

Road Closure: 

Travel is prohibited on the following National Forest System (NFS) Roads as described below and shown on the attached map (Exhibit A).

• NFS Road No. 2300 from its origin at the southern boundary of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest SE corner of Section 33, T7N, R10E to its jun
• NFS Road No. 2309 from its origin off NFS Road No 2300 to its Junction with FS Road 5603.

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50 (e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Any Federal, State, or County officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

2. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation Order), specifically exempting them from this order.

3. Persons traveling for evacuation purposes.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A. Violations of this prohibition are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or

$10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both (16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3551, 3559, 3571, and 3581).

Exhibit A: MAP Closure Area