Public Information Phone: (435) 310-5450 Email: 2024.silverking@firenet.gov

Agency: Fishlake National Forest – Beaver Ranger District

Location: Approximately three miles west of Marysvale, Utah

Start Date: July 05, 2024

Cause: Lightning

Acres: 18,222

Containment/Completion: 89%

Personnel: 141

On Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 7:00 a.m., the Silver King Fire will be transferred from Nevada Incident Management Team 5 to a local Type 4 Incident Manager. The fire has continually reduced assigned resources and lowered the incident complexity, allowing for a more cost-effective structure to take command and see the fire through to full containment.

With Nevada Team 5’s departure, the resources available to provide information to the public will change slightly. As of tomorrow, August 2, 2024, the fire information locations will be reduced to just two locations, the Marysvale Sinclair gas station and the Richfield Forest Service District Office. The fire information phone line will also transfer to the main Forest Service District Office line at (435) 896-9233.

While the fire is reducing in complexity and the incident management objectives are being met, the fire will remain in a patrol and monitor status for quite some time. Because the fire is confined and not declared “out” there will still be a considerable amount of smoke throughout the summer until cooler, winter weather arrives. However, the threat of the fire escaping its current footprint has been reduced to the lowest level possible with the contain/confine strategy.

Because the fire area will still be active, please, for your own safety, observe all forest closure notices and watch out for fire personnel and apparatuses around the fire area throughout the rest of the summer. The most current closure map can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fishlake/alerts-notices.

For Immediate Release: July 31, 2024

Contact: ADOT Public Information Office

news@azdot.gov 

Southbound SR 87 reopens south of Payson

Future restrictions possible as crews continue to fight Sand Stone Fire

PHOENIX – Southbound State Route 87 has reopened south of Payson, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Though southbound lanes have reopened, the Sand Stone Fire remains active near the highway and crews continue to address the fire. Motorists should pay attention and obey any signage or instructions when driving through this area.

Depending on fire activity and weather conditions, highway restrictions may again need to be implemented. Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, the AZ511 app (download for Apple or Android devices) or by calling 511. 

Southbound lanes of SR 87 had been closed at State Route 188 since Sunday afternoon because of the fire west of the highway.

Information on the Sand Stone Fire is available at inciweb.wildfire.gov (search for Sand Stone) and the Tonto National Forest Facebook page at facebook.com/TontoNationalForest/.

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Pomeroy, WA: The Lower Granite Fire started about 11:42am on July 29th, 2024.  The fire quickly spread east with strong, gusty winds, threatening croplands, cattle, rangeland and structures. 

Yesterday, Tuesday, July 30th; fire crews focused on unburned fuels in the canyons between the uplands and the Snake River. As a precaution, fire mitigation strategies were implemented to reduce the risk of flareups while also helping secure and maintain the fire line. These actives have helped reduce the risk to our fire crews while also minimizing the impact on the surrounding rangeland.

Today, hand crews having been hand trailing 100 feet into the interior from the fire line and 300 feet around structures.  Crews have been evaluating riparian areas where unburned areas are still smoldering and extinguished areas that could spread to the surrounding land. Unburned fuels are continuing to burn in the canyons between the uplands and the Snake River. Helicopters have been working on extinguishing areas actively burning aided by field crews where accessible.  Tonight, specialized crews will be utilizing infrared equipment around houses and structures within the fire zone to find any remaining hotspots.  Wildland engines will continue to patrol the fire line throughout the night.

Information: (541) 321-0369
Email: imt2.fireinfo@odf.oregon.gov
Incident Links: https://linktr.ee/WindingWatersComplex2024

Strategic firing operations are underway to secure the Winding Waters Complex
WALLOWA, Ore. – Strategic Firing operations along the Deer Creek drainage of the Big Canyon fire began this afternoon and will run into the evening.  The steep and rocky terrain, prone to rolling rocks and debris, has been a concern. “This is unforgiving country for firefighters” says Matt Howard, Incident Commander, “and I appreciate creative ideas and tactics that reduce firefighter exposure.” Instead of exposing crews to the risk of working below possible rolling debris, the firing operation and subsequent installation of a sprinkler system to secure the fire’s edge protects firefighters and the fire perimeter. There is a fire Weather Watch in effect from Friday morning through Friday evening, for hot dry and unstable conditions.
On the remaining fires in the complex, crews continue patrol and mop up efforts. The Winding Waters Complex is comprised of the following fires, listed by name and Acres:

Big Canyon: 288 Acres
Charlie Brown: 69 Acres
Courtney Creek: 59 Acres
Mountain View: 318 Acres
Water: 18.5 Acres
A community meeting will be held at the Wallowa High School commons adjacent to the gymnasium on Thursday (8/01) at 7pm. A live virtual attendance option will be available by using the Incident Links address above.

 
Public use and industrial restrictions remain in effect on both ODF and USFS jurisdictions. Above normal temperatures are forecast to return by Thursday.
Contact Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center at (541) 963- 7171 or dial 9-1-1 to report a fire or smoke. Stay informed about current fire-related updates in the Blue Mountains by visiting http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (July 31, 2024) – Fire behavior continued to challenge ground and aerial resources. The fire is currently estimated at 7,648 acres with 1% containment. Fire growth was primarily on the northwest portion of the fire. With several fires active along the Front Range, resources were shared across multiple fires.

Smoke in the area impacted visibility around the fire, and there were times when aviation assets could not be utilized. When safe, resources dropped water and fire retardant to help secure the fire perimeter and protect values at risk. Firefighters successfully worked on securing the east perimeter near Sylvan Dale Ranch.

The fire will be staffed overnight and crews will continue to engage where safe tomorrow morning. Aircraft will continue to support suppression activities.

Weather forecast for the rest of the week remains hot, dry and windy over the area through Friday. A slight chance of scattered rain is expected over the weekend. 

At 6 a.m. tomorrow, August 1, 2024, Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 will take command of the fire. Larimer County Sheriff's Office will continue to operate the Joint Information Center and provide information about evacuation notices, animal evacuations and road closures. For evacuation information visit https://www.nocoalert.org/ or text LCEVAC to 888777. The Joint Information Center can be reached at (970) 980-2500. 

The cause of the Alexander Mountain Fire is under investigation. Anyone with information regarding the cause and origin of the Alexander Mountain fire is asked to call the Forest Service Law Enforcement Tip Line at (303) 275-5266. Photographs and videos can be submitted via https://fs.us.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/amountainfire.

For more information visit Inciweb, and for the latest updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. To receive email updates on this fire, join our email list and select Forest Health & Fire: North of Hwy 34 to Hwy 14 (Buckhorn Canyon, Glen Haven, Cedar Park).

Currant Creek Fire Update

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Size: 193 acres | Containment: 20%

Tuesday night just as the sun was setting, firefighters on the line noticed a flare-up of fire activity on the southeast finger of the fire area. It appeared a firebrand had blown into unburned vegetation along the perimeter of the fire. Firefighters quickly got to work building handline around the spot fire that was aggressively consuming oak, pinion, and juniper. They also utilized tactical firing operations to strengthen the dozer line that had been constructed earlier in the day. By applying fire strategically, firefighters can “fight fire with fire” by consuming available fuels in advance of a natural fire. This slows or halts the spread of natural fire when it meets the fireline, reducing the potential for it to jump or spot over the line. The operation was successful and firefighters successfully held the spot fire at the dozer line, working until it was sufficiently suppressed at approximately 3:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Crews were back on the fire by 8:00 a.m. Their primary objective today was to secure the spot fire and to ensure that no additional hotspots were created by the flare-up throwing firebrands over the line Tuesday night. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) utilizing thermal cameras confirmed the fire was still confined to the west side of the ridge. The spot fire contributed to a 9-acre increase in size. Fire behavior was still fairly active throughout the day, so the helicopter was utilized to make water drops and cool troublesome hotspots enough that firefighters could work them. Other crews scoured the surrounding area for heat to eliminate any hotspots that might contribute to another flare-up.

A second bulldozer has been brought on to construct contingency lines in the Dry Creek drainage, while the first bulldozer continues improving and widening the line that was constructed yesterday. There is now dozer line from Currant Creek Road north of the fire area up to the ridge, from the ridge down to the burned area on the northernmost finger, continuing along the ridge and tied into the burned area on the southernmost finger. While firefighters are working hard to contain this fire, it is still active and there may be visible flames and smoke in the area until the fire is declared “out”.

Preparedness: It’s never too late to prepare and plan for the possibility of being impacted by wildfires. This includes having evacuation plans for yourself, your family, and your animals, having a “go-bag” ready, performing wildfire mitigation on and around your home, and even having a plan for creating clean indoor air when smoke gets thick outside. It’s also important to sign up for alerts, so you can immediately be notified if there is a fire or other emergency happening in your area. Visit DeltaCountyCO.gov/Alerts to sign up or learn more about Emergency Alerts in Delta County. For resources on planning for wildfire, visit ready.gov/wildfires.

Closures: Currant Creek Road remains closed to the public at the intersection with Cactus Park Road. Only residents on the lower portions of Currant Creek Road, south of the fire, will be permitted past the road closure. We ask that non-residents or anyone wanting to look at the fire please avoid the area. We need to maintain a clear access road for firefighter safety.

Fire Links:

West Slope Fire Info | https://www.westslopefireinfo.com

Delta County Sheriff's Office | Stage 1 Fire Restrictions - https://www.deltacountyco.gov/138/Burning-Restrictions

Currant Creek Fire Update | https://www.deltacountyco.gov/656/Issued-Alerts

Current Creek Inciweb Page | https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/inc.../coupd-currant-creek-fire

Sunshine and warmer temperatures returned Wednesday to the area of the Black Mountain Fire northwest of Lincoln, Mont. There was more smoke visible than there was Tuesday, which saw cooler and damper conditions. 

You can tell a lot about a wildfire from looking at the smoke it produces. Monday saw black smoke roiling above flames, the sign of a fire on the move and incompletely burning the available fuel in its path.

The smoke visible on Wednesday was mostly white. While it indicates there is still a lot of heat within the fire perimeter, the fire is now burning the available fuel within the perimeter more completely and exhibiting signs of little growth. It remains estimated at 65 acres with zero containment. 

The Lewis and Clark Hotshots are among the 85 or so people assigned to the Black Mountain Fire. You could see their handiwork along an ATV trail on the southern edge of the fire, where they used saws to brush out an area as they begin to establish a containment line. Not to be outdone were the heavy equipment operators. Feller bunchers are taking down larger trees, with other rigs hauling it a safe distance from the fire line.

Residents who had been evacuated are back in their homes, but remain under a warning as a precaution. A forest closure is now in place in order to facilitate firefighting efforts and keep the public out of harm’s way.

Area residents and visitors need to be aware of increased emergency vehicle traffic on area roads and highways.

Information will be updated on the Helena-Lewis and Clark Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HLCNF and on InciWeb at 
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mthlf-black-mountain

Summary: Storms moved through the area on July 24th which resulted in multiple lightning caused fires across the Boise National Forest. The fires are in steep and rugged terrain which makes access for ground resources challenging. A priority for both fires is to provide for firefighter and public safety.

Great Basin Team 7, a Complex Incident Management Team, under the command of Mike Johnston took command of the West Mountain Complex at 6:00 a.m. today which includes: Boulder, Wapiti and Bulltrout Fires on the Boise National Forest and the Wolf Creek Fire on the Payette National Forest. All fires are using a full suppression strategy to manage these lightning-caused fires.

Weather | Anticipated Fire Behavior:  Yesterday morning both fires received precipitation with temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s accompanied by high humidities. Today, temperatures will be in the 70’s with relative humidities in the in the 30% range with terrain driven winds. Both fires are burning in Lodgepole pine, spruce and subalpine fir with some short-range spotting and isolated torching of trees. Sagebrush and grasses in the higher elevations are still holding onto spring moisture and not yet receptive to fire. 

Actions: Numerous firefighting crews are in the area and providing support to both fires. Numerous aerial resources are assisting through water drops, and logistical missions aiding suppression and burnout operations. 

Wapiti Fire: Incident personnel have structure protection plans and equipment in place and the focus is to keep the fire from moving to the east.  

Bulltrout Fire: Resources are preparing to continue burnout operations along the north-west edge of the fire towards No Name Lake. This allows firefighters a good opportunity to engage the fire at strategic locations minimizing the risk for spotting. 

Important Information: For the Bulltrout Fire, the Boise and Salmon‐Challis National Forests have issued a closure order effective immediately 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 Forest 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 

For the Wapiti Fire, the Boise and Sawtooth National Forests have issued a closure order effective immediately 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 (NFS) roads such as NFS Grandjean Road (FS 524) and the Warm Springs Air Strip. Additional information about these closures can be found at https://tinyurl.com/2u8v3pf7  

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

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.