Single Publication

Minimal heat remaining on the Chimney Fire

Daily Update – Tuesday, September 17, 2024       

Acres: 6,519                                                                                                

Start Date: 9/2/2024

Location: 9 miles northwest of Fairfield, ID                                       

Personnel: 271

Containment: 43%                                                                                    

Fuels: Timber, brush, grass, understory

Highlights: Firefighters have added containment on the southern and eastern flanks of the fire after several days of successful firefighting efforts. Fire behavior is smoldering with most of the remaining heat occurring in heavy dead and down timber that has not yet fully burned in the interior of the fire area.

Operations: Yesterday, crews pulled all flagging and temporary signage in the southeastern section of the fire area. Firefighters monitoring along the southern perimeter did not detect any remaining heat or smoke. Additional crews monitored the southwestern flank to observe fire behavior across the Middle Fork of Lime Creek. No heat was found on the northwestern fire edge. The medical unit conducted medical training with several fire crews who practiced multiple scenarios including emergency rescues and how to apply a tourniquet. The Initial Attack group remained ready to respond to any new fire starts and will remain ready again today as they monitor lightning from the incoming thunderstorms. Today, firefighters will continue to look for any remaining heat along the fire perimeter. Minimal fire spread and very little smoke is expected today. Excavators and other heavy equipment have been ordered to assist with suppression repair on the eastern flank of the fire. 

Weather: Temperatures today will be cooler with afternoon highs in the 50s. Thunderstorms are expected to occur today with gusts possible up to 50 mph. The wind will shift from the southeast to the southwest during the day with afternoon gusts up to 25 mph. Rainfall will range from 0.4 to 0.7 inches.

Smoke: Some smoke may be visible from the Fairfield area, however air quality continues to improve. An interactive smoke map located at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest conditions.

Closures: The Sawtooth National Forest has issued an emergency temporary closure area for the Chimney Fire. The purpose of the closure order is to protect firefighters and the public during wildfire suppression activities occurring in and around the area. The full closure order (No. 0414-05-065) and map are available on the Sawtooth National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sawtooth/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes uncrewed aircraft or drones. Flying drones near wildfires is dangerous for pilots and firefighters and can bring wildfire suppression efforts to a halt. Know before you fly. If you fly, we can’t. More information can be found at: https://uas.nifc.gov/. 

More Information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ideix-chimney-fire / 

208-246-8292 / https://www.facebook.com/sawtoothnationalforest / 2024.chimney@firenet.gov / https://www.facebook.com/IdahoDepartmentofLands/