Single Publication

      Middle Fork Complex Fire Update  

Monday September 16, 2024 

Thunderstorms Return to the Area 

The Middle Fork Complex is 61,245 acres with 32% completion. The reduction in fire completion is due to a change in calculation. There is no change in the progress towards fully suppressing the fires.  There are 559 personnel assigned.  

Thunderstorms are expected to return to the fire area in the afternoon. High winds and hail are possible, along with lightning. Heavy rainfall is also expected. Minimal fire behavior is expected due to cooler temperatures and high humidities. If new starts result from lightning, the fires will have low spread potential. Road conditions within the area may be affected by heavy rains. Safety of firefighters is the first priority today and firefighting actions and tactics will adapt with the changing weather. 

Fire activity has been minimal since the last cycle of storms, with primarily smoldering and creeping fire behavior through understory fuels. Heavy fuels, such as logs, stumps, and underground root systems continue to smolder. The fire perimeter has increased very little over recent days and is not expected to grow significantly in the coming days thanks to incoming storms. 

Felling crews will continue to remove hazard trees from the 678 Road on the Bulldog Fire. Heavy equipment will work from the 678 Road to the 556 Road on improving road conditions with the use of road graders. Crews continue to assess areas within the 678 area to improve fuels mitigation around structures. Firefighters will continue to improve the contingency lines within the Lightning Creek drainage. If needed, when conditions are favorable, firefighters will look for more opportunities to conduct burn out operations to improve the firelines protecting the Garden Valley and Crouch communities. Crews will begin to remove excess equipment from areas of the fire that were previously contained ahead of the incoming weather systems, especially on the southwest side of the Nellie Fire. 

There will be a community meeting tonight, September 16, at 6 p.m. at the White Barn Building, near 85 Severance Road, Garden Valley, Idaho. The recording will be posted on Inciweb, YouTube, and Facebook.  

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/  

Take wildfire risk reduction steps to make your home safer during a wildfire: Visit the Firewise website for information: 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 

Smoke and Air Quality: https://www.airnow.gov