Join members of the Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team and Payette National Forest agency officials for an informational meeting. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 15 at 12:00 P.M. at the Corner Pub in Yellow Pine, ID. Teams members and agency personnel will be available to answer questions and share updates.
 

Crews secure, hold, and patrol

Red Rock Fire

Operations: Yesterday crews made progress building handline south of the cobalt mine and removed vegetation along Blackbird Road (FR 115) and Deep Creek Road (FR 101) to be used as alternate containment line if needed. Unmanned aircraft assisted with interior ignitions to clean up pockets of unburned fuel and crews did ignitions off the Yellowjacket Road (FR 112) to keep the fire from progressing any further south. Dozers constructed line from Ridge Road (FR 020) to Moyer Peak with plans to continue until it connects to FR 103 in Moyer Creek. Containment line was connected around the entire spot fire near Napias Creek.

Today, preparing Blackbird Road and Deep Cr Road will continue with crews removing vegetation along the road. Dozer line construction will also continue on Moyer Peak. Along the Ridge Road (FR 020) crews are ready to start ignitions if needed to prevent fire spread to the east but will assess the need throughout the day. On the spot fire near Napias Creek, crews will remove snags and continue to secure the containment line. 

Garden Fire

Operations: Yesterday fire behavior was minimal. Crews continued to patrol and mop up the perimeter in Panther Creek and the Salmon River corridor. Crews are methodically checking for heat sources. Today, monitoring these areas will continue and any hot spots identified will be extinguished. 

Additional Information

Weather: There will be little change in the temperature and humidity Monday and Tuesday compared to yesterday, but winds are predicted to shift to the southwest sustained at 3-7 with gusts to 12 mph along the ridgetops and through the Clear Creek drainage.

Smoke: Learn about wildfire smoke and your health. A smoke outlook for the area is available. 

Closures: 

Salmon‐Challis National Forest has implemented a reduced Red Rock and Garden Fires Closure, Order Number: 04‐13‐24‐026. Please refer to the link below to see further information regarding the closure reduction.

The following roads are open.  These roads border the closure. 

• The Salmon River Road (#030) is open. 
• The Panther/Morgan Creek Road (#055) is open from the junction with the Salmon River Road to Trapper Gulch. 
• The Panther/Morgan Creek Road (#055) from the south is open to the junction of the Silver Creek Road (#108). 
• The Silver Creek Road (#108) is open.
• The Opal Creek Road (#252) is open.
• The Iron Creek Road (#045) is open until the junction of the #046 road.
• The #046 road is open to the junction of the #047 road (Road to Sheephorn Lookout).
• The Leesburg Stage Road #002 road is open
• The Sharkey Creek Road #272 to Leesburg is open.
• The Jureano Mountain (#300) Road is open.
• The #325 road is open.  

Safety: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Red Rock and Garden fire areas, which includes uncrewed aircraft systems or drones. Reminder that if you fly we can’t, unauthorized drone flights pose serious risks to firefighter and public safety and the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations. 

Please stay out of the fire area. There is still active fire behavior in the fire area, including group torching and crown runs. There are multiple roads and bridges that have been destroyed or are impassable. Entry into evacuation zones that are in “Go” status is prohibited. The updated forest closure notice that encompasses both the Red Rock Fire and Garden Fire areas includes multiple road and area closures. Barricade closures will be posted at road intersections and forest boundaries. 

Evacuations: For evacuation information in Lemhi County regarding both the Red Rock and Garden fires please go to: https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/emergency-management-department.

Elk Fire Update – October 14, 2024

Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3

Casey Cheesbrough, Incident Commander 

Size: 89,315 acres (1,455-acre increase)

Total Personnel: 944

Containment: 27 percent

Cause: Lightning

Resources: 13 aircraft | 19 crews | 59 engines | 8 dozers | 18 water tenders | 5 masticators | 8 skidders | 6 feller bunchers 4 processor | 3 chippers

Key Messages: The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office has implemented planned changes to evacuation levels today.  Residents in the Poverty Flats area have been moved to “Go” status, while others to the north have been changed from “Ready” to “Set”. These changes are due to potential nearby strategic firing operations and increases of personnel, resources and equipment in these areas. For more information on Sheridan County evacuations, go to the Sheridan County Emergency Management website: tinyurl.com/2s38bcc5.

Public information officers will be at the Big Horn post office today from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm to answer questions about the current fire situation, operational strategies, and evacuations.

Current Situation: Firefighting crews continued strategic firing operations south of the main fire yesterday to reduce fuels, slow the fires spread, and reduce intensity. Firefighters started ignitions at Red Grade Road and the operations progressed to the north.  Overnight crews continued the firing operations and were able to complete firing along the seven-mile-long control line.  Structure protection crews will continue work near homes and other properties in the Poverty Flats area today, clearing flammable debris and setting up ponds, pumps and sprinkler systems. 

Up Red Grade Road on the National Forest, crews are using feller bunchers, masticators and other heavy equipment to clear vegetation on both sides of the FSR 26 in order to create defensible line for strategic firing operations, if needed, to stop the southward movement of the fire.

In the Burgess Junction area, hand crews and heavy equipment will continue work to improve the 15 Road and remove trees and vegetation. Their goal is to reduce potential fire impacts in Burgess Junction. Crews and equipment will move to the 16 Road today, doing similar work.

Crews north of the fire continued chipping debris along the 144 road, as well as patrolling along the dozer lines to prevent any movement west into the Broderick Flats. Patrols along containment line on the eastern side of the fire are ongoing, with very few hotspots being found. 

Weather & Fire Behavior: Yesterday there were moderate temperatures, slightly lower relative humidity, and lingering smoke. This resulted in minimal fire activity during the day. Last night, the lower humidity continued early resulting in more fire activity than recent nights. After midnight, temperatures fell and humidity rose resulting in steadily decreasing fire activity. Today is forecasted to be warmer and drier with a westerly wind moving to a northwesterly wind. This will likely increase fire activity on the southern end of the fire; for air-quality and smoke information, go to airnow.gov. 

Evacuations and Closures: For information on Johnson County evacuations, go to Johnson County Emergency Management’s Facebook page: facebook.com/JohnsonCoWYEMC. For info on Sheridan County evacuations and road closures, go to the Sheridan County Emergency Management website: tinyurl.com/2s38bcc5. You can also call the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office (307-672-3455) or Sheridan County Emergency Management (307-752-2174). The Red Cross has an evacuation center at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds that can accommodate people, RVs/campers, pets, and livestock.  Call 307-752-2174 or 307-683-6965 to make arrangements. US Highway 14 is closed at Granite Pass/Hunt Mountain Road/FS 10 (milepost 38.3). US Highway 14A is closed at Hunt Mountain Road/FS10 (milepost 85.6). View the Wyoming Department of Transportation road-closure map here: wyoroad.info. Bighorn National Forest lands around the Elk Fire are closed under Order 02-02-06-24-08. The order and map can be viewed here: fs.usda.gov/alerts/bighorn/alerts-notices.

Location: San Bernardino County, CA                                                         Start Date: September 5, 2024

Size: 43,978 acres                                                                                         Percent Contained: 97%

Cause: Human                                                                                               Personnel: 510

CURRENT SITUATION:

Heat is diminishing near the confluence of Bear Creek and Siberia Creek thanks to the successful efforts of helitack crews in the steep, resistant terrain. Patrols near Mile Creek and Cold Creek are reporting minimal heat in the area, with little threat to control lines. Fuels are drier than normal for this time of year and receptive to ignition, so firefighters are staying engaged and are prepared for initial attack response if needed. Fire danger remains high. The public is asked to be extremely diligent and fire wise. 

Considerable progress has been made with suppression repair on the Line Fire. The goal of this plan is to repair the land, water, and property impacts created by incident suppression activities, returning the area to a more natural condition by rehabilitating impacted areas to the extent practical. The overall goal with suppression repair is to avoid concentration of water runoff onto the fire line and allow for proper drainage of water across slopes. To date, over 79 miles of dozer line have been repaired and 35 miles are in various stages of assessment or repair. Over 22 miles of handline have been repaired, and six miles are in progress.

This will be the final written daily update for the Line Fire. Additional updates regarding the fire will be posted to social media.

WEATHER:

Light winds and clear skies will continue through at least Tuesday. Additional moisture will result in moderate to good relative humidity through the day Thursday. Temperatures will fluctuate a few degrees but top out mainly in the 60s and 70s before cooling down even more on Thursday. 

CLOSURES:

San Bernardino National Forest has issued closures for areas surrounding the Line Fire. For more information and to see the map use this link -  https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sbnf/?cid=FSEPRD1181411. 

Highway 330 remains closed from Highland Avenue to Highway 18 as CalTrans performs repairs to the road and guardrails. 

EVACUATIONS: 

There are currently no evacuation warnings or orders for communities in or around the Line Fire. 

Taos, N.M., Oct. 13, 2024—Here’s the latest for prescribed fires on the Carson National Forest:

• It’s the last day of major operations on the La Jara Prescribed Fire. After today fire crews implement the long-term patrol and monitoring plan for the La Jara Unit to ensure that all hot spots burn out in a timely manner or are mopped up.  Crews along the fire perimeter especially near highway 64 are making the fire safer and reducing residual smoke by extinguishing or removing burning material along or near the control line, felling snags, and moving logs so they won't roll downhill.   Throughout the last few days,  an uncrewed aerial system, or drone, has been used to both help identify hot spots throughout the project area and to identify burned areas that no longer carry heat. 

• In recent years, the Carson National Forest has increased our post-ignition monitoring efforts for prescribed fires to ensure the safest outcomes. Use of drones and lengthier waiting periods before officially calling a fire “out” are examples of these efforts. To learn more about how the Carson is improving our prescribed fires, visit this page: (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/carson/fire/?cid=fseprd1205804)  
   
• Resources are being gathered to implement the Powderhouse Prescribed Fire in the Valle Vidal as early as Oct. 15. For more details read the October 10 news release available at www.fs.usda.gov/detail/carson/news-event

Email: 2024.shoe@firenet.gov

Incident Website:

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cashf-shoe-fire

Forest Website:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/stnf         

Location: Shasta County, CA                                            

Start Date:  Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 6:57 p.m.       

Cause: Human caused                                                      

Size:2,861 acres                                                          

Percent Contained:  0%                                                   

Vegetation: Timber, Chapparal

Number of Personnel Assigned: 421

Complex California Interagency Incident Management Team 13 has taken command of the fire as of 7:00 a.m., October 12, 2024. 

With new fire growth in the Beartrap creek, crews and aircraft will prioritize suppression efforts for the remainder of the day implementing full suppression tactics. Ground crews continue to do hose lays, structure protection and dozer operations to further establish control lines. Tactical firing operations have been initiated to help protect structures and have been reported successful by fire personnel. As suppression tactics continue the safety of firefighters, and the public will remain our highest priority.

Fire is predominantly moving northward, fueled by timber in steep and rugged terrain. A warming and drying trend will begin today extending until Monday as humidity levels gradually begin to decrease in the area. We expect a slow increase in fire behavior carried by upslope and up canyon winds.

Additionally, the Shoe fire was named after Shoeinhorse Mountain which is in close proximity to this incident.

WEATHER: The forecast for the area indicates a warming trend over the next few days with increased winds.

EVACUATIONS:  Mandatory evacuations remain in place for zone LKH-1448-B. Residents who have not evacuated are encouraged to do so. Evacuation information and alerts can be found by visiting protect.genasys.com

ROAD CLOSURES:

• Fenders Ferry Road at Pit River 7 Bridge: West-Bound Fenders Ferry Road (Also known as 34N17 - Forest Service Road 27) at the Pit River Bridge/Pit 7
• Ferry Road is closed at McCloud Bridge: East-Bound Fenders Ferry Road at the McCloud River Bridge

Information staff for the Shoe Fire are working diligently to provide timely and accurate information to the public. Fire updates can be found on the Shoe Fire 2024 Facebook page: www.facebook.com/2024ShoeFire/

This information was released by Johnson County Emergency Management via their Facebook page on 10-12-24 at 5:00 pm 

October 12, 2024 Elk Fire & Johnson County Update 

In an effort to maintain continuity with our regional and state partners, Johnson County is adopting the “Ready, Set, Go” method for public warnings, pre-evacuations, and evacuation notices. As the Elk Fire continues to move throughout the Big Horn National Forest and Sheridan County, please take some time to familiarize yourself with this program and be aware of fires in your area. 

Currently, the Elk Fire has moved southward in the direction of Johnson County, however it remains to be a safe distance from Johnson County. In cooperation with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, Johnson County Emergency Management is monitoring the Elk Fire closely. At this time, the town of Story is in the “READY” state. Johnson County Emergency Management at this time is placing constituents who reside between the Sheridan County line and the state land just south of Wagon Box Road, known as “Big Five” are also being placed in the “READY” state. 

Please review the following information to familiarize yourself with each definition of the “Ready, Set, Go” public notification process and/or visit this site for information regarding this program: 

https://gacc.nifc.gov/.../prevention/doc/ready_set_go.pdf 

READY – Prepare Now 

Be aware of the hazards that can threaten your community. 

• Take steps now to prepare for seasonal threats. 

• Register with your county/tribal emergency notification system. 

• Connect with your local emergency management office, sheriff's office and public health department on social media. 

• Make a family evacuation and communication plan that includes family phone numbers, out-of-town contacts and family meeting locations. Keep in mind physical distancing recommendations, wearing face coverings or other public health recommendations. 

• Build an emergency go kit with enough food, water and necessary supplies for at least 72 hours. Include supplies to help keep you and your family healthy, such as face coverings, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Start with the five P’s; people and pet supplies, prescriptions, papers, personal needs and priceless items. 

• Check with your neighbors, family, friends and elders through video chats or phone calls to ensure they are READY. 

• Keep up to date on local news, weather watches, weather warnings and public health recommendations. 

SET – Be Alert 

Know there is significant danger in your area. 

• Residents should consider voluntarily relocating to a shelter or with family/friends outside the affected area. Residents should avoid close contact with those who are sick and should practice public health recommendations when relocating. 

• Grab your emergency go kit. 

• Keep in mind unique needs for your family or special equipment for pets and livestock. 

• Stay aware of the latest news and information from public safety and public health officials. 

This might be the only notice you receive. Emergency services cannot guarantee they will be able to notify everyone if conditions rapidly deteriorate. Be SET to GO. 

GO! – Evacuate 

Danger in your area is imminent and life threatening. 

• Residents should evacuate immediately to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area. Residents should avoid close contact with those who are sick and should practice public health recommendations when relocating. 

• If you choose to ignore this advisement, you must understand emergency services may not be able to assist you further. 

• Follow instructions from emergency personnel, stay on designated evacuation routes and avoid closed areas. 

The county has been getting inquiries about those folks with special medical needs who are in the Ready, Set, Go status on the evacuation list for the Elk Fire. 

Here are some things to consider if you or someone you know may need assistance evacuating: 

• Can you move quickly in the event of an emergency? 

• Are you a wheelchair user? 

• Would you need assistance to get out of your home? 

• Is anyone designated to assist you to get out in an emergency? 

• Do you need full or part time caregiver? 

The time to consider these questions is when you are first put into the ready status. You should be talking with family or friends as well as your doctors to gather information on what you will need if the evacuation notice to “set “and “go” is given. 

These below populations are typically recommended to use a medical needs shelter as opposed to a standard emergency shelter: 

• People with chronic illnesses requiring ongoing medication management (i.e. if you need someone else to manage it for you, is that person with you?) 

• Individuals with mobility impairments needing assistance with daily activities (the shelter staff will have other duties and will not have the capacity to assist those with specific disabilities) 

• People dependent on oxygen therapy or other specialized medical equipment that may require power 

• Individuals with cognitive disabilities requiring extra supervision (the shelter staff will have other duties and will not have the capacity to assist those with specific disabilities) 

Depending on your specific health concerns, if you are put into the “set” level and have the need for medical care and or assistance for health care you may want to decide to find an alternate place to stay and do a “self-evacuation.” 

Finally, those who are not signed up for Code Red Alerts but want to remain informed about this fire can look for updates here on the Johnson County Emergency Management Facebook page or the following: 

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident.../wybhf-elk-fire-2024 

Visit here to sign up for Code Red Alerts: 

https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/B376F4CAB9AC 

Elk Fire Update – October 13, 2024

Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3

Casey Cheesbrough, Incident Commander 

Size: 87,805 acres (3,477-acre increase)

Total Personnel: 901

Containment: 28 percent

Cause: Lightning

Resources: 13 aircraft | 17 crews | 70 engines | 8 dozers | 17 water tenders | 5 masticators | 8 skidders | 5 feller bunchers | 1 processor

Key Messages: Public information officers and fire personnel will be at the Story post office today from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm to answer questions about the current fire situation, operational strategies, and evacuations.

Percent containment decreased from 32 percent to 28 percent due to an increase in overall acreage of the fire.

In an effort to maintain continuity with Sheridan County regarding Elk Fire evacuations, Johnson County managers alerted residents in the Story area by issuing a Ready status just south of the Sheridan-Johnson county line. For more information, go to Johnson County Emergency Management’s Facebook page: facebook.com/JohnsonCoWYEMC.

Current Situation: Crews on the northern side of the fire will be patrolling along the dozer-constructed firelines watching for any hotspots, stopping progression, as well as clearing and chipping debris along the 144 Road. Crews patrolling the contained eastern side of the fire are finding very few hotspots. The south side of the fire remains the priority area for both night- and day-shift crews. Fire activity was minimal overnight as crews worked around structures along the Red Grade Road to make improvements. Today, firing operations south of the main fire are ongoing to reduce fuels and increase firelines as firefighters work their way south to Red Grade Road. Helicopters made numerous retardant drops yesterday around communication infrastructure, dozer firelines, hunting camps, and cabins. “We will continue to look south to Story and to communication sites in the area,” said Elk Fire Incident Commander Casey Cheesbrough. “We have been successful so far by being proactive, and we will continue to operate that way.” Today, all 13 aircraft are available to assist with firing operations; however, heavy smoke and low visibility may limit their ability to fly. In the Burgess Junction area, crews are prepped and ready, but the favorable weather is keeping the fire activity low. Heavy equipment and hand crews continue to widen and clear the areas along the Forest Service Road 15, preparing it for future firing operations should that become necessary. 

Weather & Fire Behavior: Lower temperatures and higher relative humidity levels yesterday led to a decrease in fire behavior and were ideal for firing operations later in the day. Today will continue with lower temperatures and a light northerly wind, resulting in another day of moderate fire growth expected in most areas. Firing operations and the main fire could produce abundant smoke today; for air-quality and smoke information, go to airnow.gov. 

Evacuations and Closures: For information on Johnson County evacuations, go to Johnson County Emergency Management’s Facebook page: facebook.com/JohnsonCoWYEMC. For information on Sheridan County evacuations and road closures, go to the Sheridan County Emergency Management website: tinyurl.com/2s38bcc5. You can also call the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office (307-672-3455) or Sheridan County Emergency Management (307-752-2174). The Red Cross has established an evacuation center at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds that is accommodating people, RVs/campers, pets, and livestock; call 307-752-2174 or 307-683-6965 to make arrangements. US Highway 14 is closed at Granite Pass/Hunt Mountain Road/FS 10 (milepost 38.3). US Highway 14A is closed at Hunt Mountain Road/FS10 (milepost 85.6). View the Wyoming Department of Transportation road-closure map here: wyoroad.info. Bighorn National Forest lands around the Elk Fire are closed under Order 02-02-06-24-08. The order and map can be viewed here: fs.usda.gov/alerts/bighorn/alerts-notices.

• On the La Jara Prescribed Fire, Resources continued to implement the long-term patrol and monitor plan for the La Jara unit, securing control features along the fires edge including the removal of hazardous fuels along Highway 64.  Weather conditions did not meet the desired conditions to ignite fuel in the Apache Unit where ignitions have been postponed for the foreseeable future.  This decision is a part of a new approach to prescribed fire.  The public should expect to see smoke diminishing in and around the area in the following days.
• In case you missed it, managers are looking at the possibility of beginning the Powderhouse Prescribed Fire in Valle Vidal as early as Oct. 15. Read the October 10 news release for more details.
• Crews continue to patrol and monitor the Sotano and American Creek prescribed fires, which were completed recently. 

Containment lines withstand another wind shift; suppression repair includes trail

Daily Update: October 13, 2024

Fire Information Phone: 503-854-3366 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) 

Email: 2024.Bingham@firenet.gov 

Acres: 199      Containment: 93%

Location: Areas of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, east of Marion Forks.

Start Date: September 30,2024             Personnel:   162                 

Resources: 5 crews | 1 engine | 2 bulldozers | 1 water tender | 1 excavator

Highlights: For three consecutive days, winds above the Bingham Fire have shifted from out of the east to out of the west, and acreage continues to hold at 199 acres. Containment nudged up a percentage point from Saturday to 93 percent today. 

Firefighters remained encouraged that regardless of wind direction, the fire stayed within its existing footprint and no major heat sources were found near the containment perimeter. Crews will continue patrolling containment lines and seeking out hot spots within the fire’s interior.

Firefighters and heavy equipment operators will repair roads and terrain damaged by containment line construction and other wildfire suppression tactics. Part of that work will include repairing portions of the Bingham Ridge Trail inside the fire’s perimeter.

Motorists enjoying the holiday weekend are advised to be mindful of firefighting vehicles on and around Highway 22 as firefighters begin removing equipment and supplies from the area. 

Evacuations: The Linn County Sheriff’s Office has reduced the size of LEVEL 3: GO NOW! evacuation areas Oct. 10, converting them to LEVEL 2: GET SET evacuation alerts. The Level 2 evacuation area extends along Highway 22 to a ½-mile west of Highway 22, from Pamelia Road (NFS Road 2246) south to Parrish Lake Road (NFS Road 2266). Please refer to the Linn County Wildfire Map for more information: https://tinyurl.com/LinnCoFireMap. Highway 22 remains open. 

The Willamette National Forest also reduced its closure area Oct. 10 within the same footprint as the county’s Level 3 evacuation zone. Details of the closure order can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/2y4sacl8. The Pacific Crest Trail through the Mount Jefferson Wilderness remains open. Impacted trails include Bingham Ridge Trail, Independence Rock Trail, Marion Lake Trail and Lake of the Woods Trail. With hunting season started, Forest Service staff will work with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office to reduce closure areas as soon as it is safe to do so.

Weather: No rain or lightning materialized over the fire Saturday. Morning easterly winds today will bring warmer and drier air before switching back out of the west in the afternoon. A 40 percent chance of precipitation is forecast for Tuesday.