Single Publication

Suppression Work Continues as Rain Slows but does not Stop Middle Fork Complex Fires

The Middle Fork Complex is 61,228 acres, with 32% completion. There are 621 personnel assigned.  The rain cycles over the last several days left 1/10th of an inch in some areas and up to one inch in others. The rain was beneficial in that firefighters did not have to carry water to the site for mop up. The fire continues to smolder and creep. Fire behavior is expected to remain minimal for the next few days, but pockets of heat remain in heavy dead and down vegetation. These fuels will continue to burn when the sun warms them or the relative humidity decreases and they dry out. 

The rain triggered a heavy debris flow on the 555 Road. Heavy equipment and crews are working to open the road and maintain access for firefighters working on the east side of the Nellie Fire. On the northeast tip of the Nellie Fire, firefighters had to remove trees and rocks to access the area and were then able to resume constructing direct fireline. Firefighters continue to work to remove hazard trees along the roadways for safety.

Fire crews have contained a 1.5 mile stretch of fireline on the Nellie Fire along Highway 17, which has increased overall completion on the fire. Firefighters will continue to mop up hot spots along the fire’s perimeter. Hot spots within the interior of the fire footprint may continue to burn until extinguished by significant, repeated precipitation.

Warmer and drier conditions are expected today with highs reaching into the 70s. Much of the fire area may dry out considerably with relative humidity falling below 15% in some valleys. Winds will be light and primarily terrain driven, with a south-southwest component along ridgetops emerging in the afternoon with gusts approaching 20 mph. Occasional high cloud cover is expected through the day. 

Boise National Forest Closure Order Number 0402-06-64 remains 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 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/ 

Learn how to prepare your home for wildfire. Visit the Firewise website for wildfire risk reduction steps that you can take to make your home safer during a wildfire: Firewise Website: https://www.nfpa.org/en/Education-and-Research/Wildfire/Preparing-homes-for-wildfire

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. 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