Ignitions Near El Rito Began Today; More Planned Near Angel Fire Tomorrow

Fire crews are back this week with more prescribed fire treatments to reduce the threat of wildfire to communities, infrastructure and natural resources. They started this morning on the Sotano Unit near El Rito and Vallecitos in Rio Arriba County.

About half of the 2,365-acre Sotano Unit was treated by Forest Service personnel with the assistance of crews from the State of New Mexico, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They plan to continue ignitions on Tuesday.

Meanwhile on the other side of the forest, crews plan to begin the La Jara and Apache Prescribed Fire near the community of Taos Pines, which is northwest of Angel Fire, on Tuesday. They will begin ignitions at the forest boundary with the neighborhood, where fire managers have closely coordinated with the community’s homeowner’s association and Firewise USA board to ensure a smooth operation.

Smoke and Community Notifications

Like today, treatments will produce smoke that can drift near and far from project sites. Fire managers coordinate with the New Mexico Environment Department to conduct ignitions on days when smoke impacts are minimized.

Unlike large wildfires, prescribed fires are short-term in duration and planned with advance notice. Residents and visitors are encouraged to keep updated with prescribed fire and other Carson National Forest news by joining the forest news release list, among other options like following on social media and using NMFireInfo.com.

A limited number of portable air purifiers with HEPA filters, donated by the Forest Stewards Guild, are available for loan during prescribed fires on the Canjilon, El Rito and Tres Piedras ranger districts. Residents near the Sotano Prescribed Fire can call the El Rito Ranger Station at (575) 581-4554 for availability. 

Why Prescribed Fire?

Most of the vegetation on the Carson National Forest is adapted to recurrent wildland fires started by lightning. Properly managed fire, especially when combined with prior thinning and fuelwood collection, is a tool for restoring these fire-dependent ecosystems that have become unbalanced over the last century.

Learn more about the fire ecology of the Carson National Forest on a new prescribed fire website section.

The Yellow Lake Fire remains at 19,903 acres with an increase of 21% containment. A smoke inversion has settled into surrounding valleys, bringing some ash, but this does not indicate increased fire activity or threat.

Variable winds continue to keep firefighters vigilant, particularly in areas where fire activity has threatened structures along the North Fork of Duchesne Ridge. Thanks to prior structure protection, no structures have been lost thus far within any part of the fire.

Progress near Soapstone Road is promising, with minimal fire growth and mop-up operations underway. In the Heart Lake area, the southwest corner remains challenging due to high heat, despite air support. On the southeast side, a retardant line has strengthened the fuel break along Highway 35, and firefighters may conduct additional firing operations as conditions permit.

Three scooper planes were utilized throughout the afternoon dipping out of Strawberry Reservoir. It’s important to remember that while air attack supports ground crews, it does not suppress highly active fires.

Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for the North and West Forks of the Duchesne River. Residents in the Granddaddy Lakes area and Hanna are under a READY order, preparing for potential evacuation.

A community meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024, at 6 PM at the Duchesne Fairgrounds, 60 W 400 S St, Duchesne, UT 84021.

Firefighter and public safety is the number one priority for the Garden Fire.  The Salmon-Challis National Forest is expanding the closure area associated with the Garden Fire to an area north of the Salmon River for public safety.  Due to current fire behavior and predicted winds of 18-23 mph with gusts to 30-35 mph, with a 0% chance of wetting rain in the next seven (7) days, the Garden Fire has the potential to spot across the Salmon River to the north.  If the fire spots across the river, with current fuel conditions and predicted winds, the fire has a potential to make a large run. 

Therefore, the Salmon‐Challis National Forest has implemented an additional Garden Fire Closure, Order Number: 04‐13‐24‐025. 

Description of #04-13-24-025: 

DESCRIBED AREA, ROADS AND TRAILS: 

Beginning at the junction of Salmon River Road 030 and Spring Creek Road 038 and following Spring Creek Road 038 to its junction with Colson Creek-State Line Road 123, then following Colson Creek-State Line Road 123 to its junction with Long Tom Road 166, the following Long Tom Road 166 to Long Tom Lookout, then following the ridgeline south to Long Tom Picnic Area, then following the Salmon River Road 030 back to its junction with Spring Creek Road 038.

Corn Lake Road 064, East Fork of Spring Creek Road 042, and Cadagan area are also closed.

The purpose of this order is to protect public health and safety from the effects of the Garden Fire.

This Order shall be in effect from October 9, 2024, at 8:00 am until October 31, 2024, or until rescinded.

The Salmon-Challis will reevaluate the closure as soon as the weather system has passed. The closure could be adjusted depending on future fire growth. 

Visit our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/scnf/, ‘Like Us’ on Facebook @salmonchallisnf, and ‘Follow Us’ on X @salmonchallisnf. 

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***ALERT***
Due to current fire behavior, Union Pass Road is CLOSED from Union Pass to Buffalo Meadow until further notice. Please avoid the area and use alternate routes for your safety.

Fire Name: Garden Fire 

Fire Size: 7,793 acres 

Cause: lightning 

Location: approximately two (2) miles southwest of the confluence of Panther Creek and the Main Salmon River on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. 

Fuels: grass, brush, dead and down fuels, and timber

Resources: 135 people  

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-garden-fire  

Fire situation:  Firefighter and public safety is the number one priority for the Garden Fire.  Fire managers are using a combination of full suppression and a point protection strategy (a wildfire response strategy, which protects specific assets or highly valued resources from the wildfire without directly halting the continued spread of the wildfire) to minimize exposure to fire personnel while protecting identified values, including private property and Forest Service infrastructure. 

Yesterday, the inversion layer did not lift and continues to limit the use of aircraft.  The fire continues to grow in the Garden Creek drainage and to the ridge to the north, towards the Salmon River.  Fire is currently holding in the upper reaches of Clear Creek, however between lower Clear Creek and Dry to Bear Gulch, the fire is backing down towards Panther Creek.  Due to limited visibility, fire managers are using an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) technology for infrared flights and small scale firing operations to help secure the fire’s edges. 

With additional resources arriving, the fire has added a night shift.  Presence of firefighters, primarily in the Panther Creek and Salmon River areas continues today as crews continue to work to evaluate and assess various point protection strategies to minimize impacts to values in the area.  Fire managers are scouting for opportunities to use the UAS for small scale firing operations to hold the fire above the Salmon River. Aircraft, both fixed wing and helicopters, will be used if weather and smoke conditions allow.  Fire managers are continuing to look for opportunities to engage the fire direct as fuels and weather conditions change and it is safe to do so.

Evacuations:  Lemhi County Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and the Salmon-Challis National Forest have established 2 evacuation zones for the Garden Fire. 

Zone 1: From Cove Creek to Ebeneezer Bar, downriver along the Salmon River Road #030.

Zone 2: On Panther Creek Rd #055, a half mile south of Beaver Creek Rd #057 to the Salmon River Rd #030 confluence.

ZONE 1 is in “GO” status

ZONE 2 is in “GO” status

Information on evacuation status can be found on Lemhi County’s website, https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/, under ‘News and Notices.’

Weather: ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT WEDNESDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…Dry and warm conditions will persist under high pressure with southwest upper flow warming temperatures through Wednesday.  A dry cold front on Wednesday will bring increased clouds and winds with 20 to 30 mph gusts and isolated gusts in the highest terrain reaching 30 to 40 mph. A late weekend system will help to cool temperatures and gradually increase relative humidity, however measurable precipitation remains unlikely.

Visit our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/scnf/, ‘Like Us’ on Facebook @salmonchallisnf, and ‘Follow Us’ on X @salmonchallisnf. 

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Incident Activity: Nevada Team 2, a Nevada Type 3 Incident Management Team, took command of the Valley Fire at 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time on October 7, 2024. The team brings additional resources to continue successful firefighting efforts. The fire is under the jurisdiction of the Idaho Department of Lands and is a full fire suppression effort. Crews remain focused on the most active area of the fire in the north and northeast portion where it is burning in timber near Robie Creek residential areas. Fire containment has been successful on the west portion of the fire visible from Boise. The area is being carefully monitored, with crews ready to address any concerns as they arise.

Evacuations and Closures: No primary residences have been lost. The Robie Creek area is still in a "Ready" or Stage 1 evacuation status. Visit https://www.facebook.com/boisecountysheriff for updates. There is a Boise National Forest Valley Fire Area, Road and Trail Closure. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices or contact the Mountain Home Ranger District at 208-587-7961. Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation has an interactive map that shows trails impacted by the Valley Fire. Visit https://arcg.is/10maj91

Weather: Light winds with highs in the mid-70s to low 80s. Mostly clear skies. Fire fuels are dry with no meaningful rainfall expected this week.

Valley Fire Overview: The fire was reported Friday, October 4, 2024, about 1 mile east of Boise on the north side of Idaho State Highway 21. The fire was very visible from East Boise as it burned in mostly grassy fuels in the Boise Foothills. Quick work on initial attack stopped the fire from reaching nearby homes. The Bureau of Land Management, Boise District, along with the Boise Fire Department and other local agencies led initial firefighting efforts. Resources include hotshot crews, engines, dozers, and aerial resources.

Prevention Message:

•    Never leave campfires unattended. Ensure they are completely extinguished by drowning, stirring, and feeling for heat.
•    Avoid burning during windy conditions. Wind can cause embers to spread quickly, igniting dry vegetation.
•    Use spark arresters on equipment. Chainsaws, ATVs, and other machinery can produce sparks that ignite dry grass and brush.
•    Obey all local fire restrictions. Check before starting any outdoor activities that involve fire.

A Closure order has been updated for roads and trail by the Forest Service in the Logan fire area.  

The Described Roads are: (1) NFS Road #371 (Big Creek-Smith Creek Road), from the North End of the Big Creek Airstrip at the junction with the Storage Shed access road North to its junction with NFS Road #373; and (2) NFS Road #373 (Pueblo Summit Road) in its entirety. The Described Roads are located in Sections 4 and 26, Township 21 North, Range 9 East, P.M.

The Described Trail is NFS Trail #194 (Smith Creek ATV), in its entirety. The Described Trail is located in Section 20 North, Township 21 North, Range 9 East, P.M.
The Described Roads and Trail are located within Valley County, Idaho, and Idaho County, Idaho and Boise Meridian.

Elkhorn Fire Update – October 8, 2024

Acres: 22,430

Containment: 50%

Key Message: 

• The fire is currently 50% contained. Firefighters are actively working with aircraft, engines, and hand crews to establish additional containment lines. Progress has been slow due to the rugged terrain. Local, State, and Federal officials are working together to contain the fire. We appreciate the local support and coordination.
• Over the next few days, you may see increased smoke from within the fire area. Increased smoke and smoke columns will be most noticeable in the afternoon and evening hours. If smoke is coming from within the fire area, it does not need to be reported. 
• The cold front passage is expected on Thursday. This will bring strong winds, lower relative humidity, and unseasonably warm temperatures. Firefighters are doing everything they can to strengthen excising fire lines and be ready for the change in weather. 

Today’s Update (10/8/2024) 

• Crews will continue working to increase the containment of the fire. This work may include burning out interior pockets of unburned fuels, which is meant to reduce the risk of fire spreading across containment lines or causing spot fires in the future.
• The North Dakota National Guard will continue their efforts to drop water as needed.
• If needed, a swing shift may be added to accomplish more work while weather conditions are conducive.
• Yesterday, firefighters reinforced fire lines on the north and south flanks, continued mop-up along structures, and completed small burnouts to establish the fireline in the rugged areas of the fire. The McKenzie County Road Department utilized a road grader to strengthen existing containment lines. The North Dakota National Guard operated a Blackhawk to drop water in the areas of the Rough Creek drainage.

Railroad-Daly Fires 

Bitterroot National Forest

Fire Information: 406-360-4587

2024.dalyrailroad@firenet.gov

https://linktr.ee/sharrottjohnsondalyrailroad 

October 8, 2024

Type 3 Incident Command Team, Incident Commander Matt Young  

Location: Railroad Creek/ Skalkaho Creek confluence, 26 miles southeast of Hamilton

Start Date: 7/25/2024  

Cause: Undetermined                

Daly Fire Acres: 8,377  Railroad Fire Acres: 1,300  Completion: 56%

Total Personnel: 133

Current Status 

Yesterday’s fire progression was minimal but demonstrated active creeping and backing. Helicopters were utilized to preform bucket work and suppress growth on the fire.

Crews will continue to establish a shaded fuel break along Coal Creek Road, extending their efforts to the Stony Creek area. Structural protection will be enhanced in Stony Creek and crews will closely monitor fire activity in the upper Stony Creek area. Additionally, teams will be constructing hand and dozer lines from Gird Creek Road to Highway 38. Aerial resources will remain actively engaged to oversee and manage the fire's spread.

Weather and Fire Behavior 

Expect warmer than usual temperatures and dry weather to last thru Wednesday as high pressure sits over the area. In the afternoons and early evenings, you can expect a typical breeze to pick up. However, on Wednesday afternoon and evening, the winds are predicted to get stronger.

Fire activity and potential will remain high for at least two weeks due to current and forecasted weather. In the West, burn periods will be longer than usual, especially during wind events. Other areas are likely to see increased fire potential as leaf fall rises, with little precipitation expected. Anomalously dry conditions in the West will heighten fire activity in October, with significant fire behavior during wind events potentially resembling August's intensity, including long burn periods. 

Closures

All areas along State Highway 38 (Skalkaho Highway) beginning at the top of Skalkaho Pass near mile marker 26.5 along State Hwy 38 to the East and turning to the north at the junction of State Hwy 38 and Rock Creek Road. From State Highway 38 and Rock Creek Road (County Road 102) turning north to the junction of State Highway 348 and Rock Creek Road and proceeding northwesterly on Rock Creek Road (County Road 102) to the junction of USFS Road 241. Following USFS Road 241 (Stony Creek Road) moving southwesterly to the junction of Little Stony Creek and Stony Creek. Following Little Stony Creek west to the ridge where Trail 313 (Bitterroot Rock Creek Divide Trail) begins and continuing south along Trail 313 to the intersection and ending at mile marker 14 on western side of State Highway 38.