Single Publication

Middle Fork Complex Fire Update

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

 Red Flag Warning This Afternoon; Extreme Weather Likely 

The Middle Fork Complex is 61,159 acres, with 352 acres of growth per last night’s infrared flight, with 30% completion. There are currently 653 personnel assigned to these fires, including 18 hand crews, 26 engines, and 4 helicopters. A Red Flag Warning is in effect this afternoon due to scattered thunderstorms over dry fuels. Showers and thunderstorms may develop as early as the morning, with multiple rounds possible through evening. Hail and winds gusting up to 60 mph are possible across the area. Debris flows and flash flooding are also possible under the strongest thunderstorms or where multiple thunderstorms pass over the same area, especially on steep slopes with high burn severity. Temperatures will be cooler with highs reaching the 60s to mid-70s, and relative humidity reaching 40% under mostly cloudy skies. Rain showers will increase overnight, with high chances of rain on much of the fire. 

Yesterday, conditions were favorable for starting a strategic burnout along the Scott Mountain ridgeline. A crew used an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for aerial ignition on the Bulldog Fire to slowly back the fire down the Scott Mountain ridge with low severity fire, to help avoid fast moving upslope fire runs in that area and help limit fire spread to the south. The burnout operations was approximately 250 acres. 

Crews continue to hold the fire east of the Middle Fork corridor, holding and patrolling Road 698. Crews continue using heavy equipment and handline to strengthen contingency fireline northwest of Road 671 and fuel mitigation around Boiling Springs and the Silver Creek Lookout in anticipation of Goat Fire movement south. 

Crews continue patrolling the indirect fireline from the Nellie Fire to the southwest corner of the Bulldog Fire.  Crews continue to patrol the southwest side of the Nellie Fire and the Highway 17 corridor. Highway 17 road repair work continues. Crews are strengthening the contingency fireline along Road 555 from the junction with Road 579 towards Deadwood Outfitters. Mop up and patrolling continues around the Deadwood Reservoir and along Road 510. After rains begin, crews will be patrolling the southern end of Road 555 and Highway 17 for flooding.

The Community Meeting tonight is CANCELLED due to possible inclement weather.  There will be a community meeting Friday, September 13, at 6 p.m. at the White Barn Building, near 85 Severance Road, Garden Valley, Idaho. 

An updated Boise National Forest Closure Order Number 0402-06-64 is in effect. An interactive forest closure map is available on the Boise National Forest Alerts & Closures website, https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices.

Hunters (whether permitted or not) are not allowed access to these closed areas. 

Highway 21 is closed from the Sourdough Lodge in Lowman to Stanley Lake Road (MP 84 to 126) due to nearby wildfire activity. Only local traffic is allowed between the Sourdough Lodge and Warm Springs Airstrip. There is no public access from the highway to surrounding areas including Grandjean, Bull Trout, Boundary Creek, Cape Horn, or Seafoam. For more information, visit the Idaho Department of Transportation website, https://511.idaho.gov/ 

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area.  Visit Know Before You Fly, http://knowbeforeyoufly.org. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect in the fire area.

Fire Information: 208-992-3045 (8am – 8pm)                                      Email: 2024.middleforkcomplex@firenet.gov 

InciWeb:https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-middle-fork-complex-fire-bulldog-and-nellie

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/people/Middle-Fork-Complex-Fire-Boise-National-Forest/61565022204468

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@2024.middleforkcomplex