Incident Publication

UPDATE: West Fire, Payson Ranger District 
September 27, 2024

Size: 15,070 acres                              Start Date: August 28, 2024
Cause: Lightning                               Location: Payson Ranger District, Arizona
Containment: 65%                         Fuels: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, chaparral
Total personnel: 158

Operations: The Gila County Sheriff’s Office and fire management team members assessed evacuation levels for Pine and Geronimo Estates and have downgraded them to READY as of today, September 27.  Fire personnel will continue to monitor the fire and ignitions have ceased. Expect interior burning and smoke as fuels dry during the weekend. Fireline repair continues in order to prevent user-created trails where hand crews and equipment have disturbed soils.  Crews will remove hazard trees today along FSR 64 to enhance firefighter and public safety when the road reopens. Yesterday, the team also assisted the Tonto National Forest with initial attack on a fire by providing a hotshot crew, a Type 1 helicopter and a Type 6 engine. 

Weather: Today, sunny warm and dry conditions continue with a high temper of 89 degrees. Winds light and variable, easterly, 0% chance of precipitation, with humidity in the 15% range.  Tonight, clear with a low around 57, winds NE 3-5 mph

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always a priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area and use caution around fire equipment on the roads.   

Smoke: Smoke from the West fire may be visible as interior fuel continues to dry and burn, decreasing as the week wears on. Expect concentrations in low lying areas near the fire perimeter in the mornings, which will clear out as air warms during the day.  Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Learn more about smoke impacts on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality website.

Closures: The Tonto National Forest has issued a closure for land surrounding the West fire.  This includes the Pine Trailhead.  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/aztnf-2024-west-fire-tnf/us-forest-service-closure-order-for-west-fire-09-04-2024

Evacuations:  Pine residents on the east side of SR 87 and east of North Pine Creek Canyon Road are in READY status. Geronimo Estates residents near the West Fire are in READY status.  For information on evacuation status, visit https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=9bf2ca222ee74f8697bc670ae9c2531a  To receive emergency notifications from Gila County, visit https://gilacountyaz.genasys.com/portal/en

For the latest news and information about the Tonto National Forest, follow along on Facebook @TontoNationalForest, ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) @TontoForest or Instagram @tontonationalforest and on the Tonto National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto

Rail Ridge Fire 

Acres: 165,341 – Containment: 74% – Detection Date: Sept 2, 2024 – Cause: Lightning – Total resources: 1,189

Operational Update: 

Cooler temperatures, increased relative humidities and lighter winds gave firefighters relief during yesterday’s operations. Suppression efforts will remain a priority in the Black Canyon Wilderness and along the northeastern edge of the Rail Ridge Fire to protect values at risk. Active fire behavior is expected again today on the south side of Black Canyon Creek, near the Coffee Pot Trailhead. Aircraft, including helicopters and Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) supported hotshot crews on the ground with water delivery. Firefighters are working closely with resource advisors to ensure careful planning and execution of suppression efforts in the wilderness. The northern and eastern portions of the fire’s footprint continue to gain containment along the Southfork Road, Aldrich Mountain, and Northeast Fields Creek. Suppression repair efforts are ongoing on the southern end of the fire where containment is established. Smoke will continue to be visible today and is predominately coming out of the Black Canyon Wilderness area in addition to the heavy fuels that continue to consume in the fire interior.

Wiley Flat Fire 

Acres: 30,186 – Containment: 94% – Detection Date: Sept 2, 2024 – Cause: Lightning – Total resources: 53  

Operational Update: Suppression repair efforts will continue today as fire crews work towards full containment.

Weather 

A weak high pressure system will move into the area later today. Winds will remain light and variable with moderate relative humidities across the fire area. Seasonally warm and dry conditions will continue to persist through the weekend with temperatures in the 80’s.

Evacuations 

     Rail Ridge Evacuations: Level 1 and 2 evacuation zones for the Rail Ridge Fire remain in Grant County.  

     Wiley Flat Evacuations:  Level 2 and 3 evacuation zones are in place for the Wiley Flat Fire in Crook County.  

     For Current Evacuation Levels in Wheeler, Crook and Grant counties, please visit: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire  

Closures 

The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management have implemented closures for the Rail Ridge and Wiley Flat Fires. For more details and closure maps, visit https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire

Public Information Map Rail Ridge and Wiley Flat Fire 9-27-2024.jpg

Fri, 09/27/2024 - 13:02

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Public Information Map Rail Ridge and Wiley Flat Fire 9-27-2024.jpg

**Middle Fork Complex Fire Update For 09/27/2024**

Middle Fork Fire Information: 208-992-3045 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.) | Email: 2024.middleforkcomplex@firenet.gov

Middle Fork Complex: 61,484 acres, 90% completion, 482 Personnel

Snag Fire: 33,436 acres, 90% comple on, 139 Personnel

Goat Fire: 26,524 acres, 46% comple on, 67 personnel

Today warmer temperatures, sunny clear skies, with calmer winds, and staying dry for the extended forecast. Relative humidity expected to be in the mid 20 percentile. Good relative humidity recoveries expected overnight will limit fire behavior.

Middle Fork Complex – Southeast side is continuing to be monitored where there is s ll some heat present and may show some smoke due to the warmer temperatures and the continuing drying of the finer fuels. Crews will be patrolling these areas as temperatures increase.

Goat – Yesterday, full suppression direct and indirect fire line was finished on the west side. Today crews are working on the ridgeline down around the private lands back to Clear Creek Road securing the fires edge. Containment and comple on line will continue to show more progress.

Snag – Crews working on the north end are working on the indirect and direct hand and dozer lines, making good progress. Suppression repair on the west side is coming to completion. Crews and engines are still present and evaluating any concerns.

Middle Fork Complex - Suppression Repair = 25 miles of handline completed. 8 miles of dozer line completed. 

Goat and Snag Fires - Suppression Repair = 15 miles of handline completed. 3 miles of dozer line completed.

Firefighters continue work both fire suppression and suppression repair as needed so heavy firefighting equipment is moving from site to site. Please use extreme caution while traveling, especially when approaching vehicles, and at intersections.

Firefighters have the conditions today to burn West Dolores Rim prescribed fire Unit 20A, a 124-acre Ponderosa pine unit located 7.4 miles northeast of Dove Creek, Colorado. This unit will be burned using ground ignitions only. 

Smoke is expected to be visible from US-491 and CO-141 throughout the weekend and into next week. Winds are expected to push smoke away from Dove Creek and Egnar, though smoke may settle into low lying area overnight. For more smoke information, visit https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

View the map and full announcement on the BLM website: https://www.blm.gov/.../sept-26-28-blm-conduct-prescribed....

For information on prescribed burns, follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/SWD_Fire and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BLMMontroseFireUnit.

Bachelor Complex Closure Order 09/26/24

Goosmus Fire Update                               

September 27, 2024

The Goosmus Fire is burning between Big Goosmus Road and Danville and along the United States and Canadian Boundary.  The Goosmus Fire started at approximately at 2:30pm and spread rapidly north, primarily driven by winds as a cold front passed through the area. 

Yesterday, aerial resources dropped retardant lines to slow fire progression, primarily along the north end (head) of the fire.  Crews worked with dozers and hand crews to create indirect and direct lines, where accessible.  Spot fires were reported across the head of the fire, primarily in the 4th of July Creek area.  Crews worked throughout the day to locate these spot fires and lined them.

Today, firefighters work towards finalizing a line around the fire. Indirect lines will be evaluated and, where safe, will be burned out to the fires front to secure the line. Increased smoke may be visible in these areas during these operations.  In areas that are considered greater risk, crews will work on creating direct lines to the fire front.  Helicopters will primarily be used to help reduce fire behavior (especially in areas of torching: tree canopy igniting on fire), working with crews to safely finalize the line around the fire.

FIRE ACTIVITY: 

The Red Rock Fire is at 3,208 acres and 73% containment.  

The recent successful efforts constructing containment lines around the northwest corner of the fire has allowed those areas to move into mop-up status and those crews to refocus on the eastern edge of the fire. Crews continued to establish handlines along the remaining uncontained sections of the perimeter. Problematic weather with gusty southwest winds is being forecast for the weekend, prompting the increase in staffing on the eastern edge of the fire. Ground crew work is being augmented with heavy aircraft support. 

The Black Eagle Fire is at 6,825 acres and 8% containment. 

The majority of the fireline of the Black Eagle Fire exists inside the Frank Church Wilderness and is being monitored for growth where the additional acreage was added. The majority of fire growth and visible smoke is remote and within the wilderness area. The areas outside of designated wilderness have seen increased fire behavior due to recent gusty winds, warm temperatures, and low relative humidities. These sections of line are being fully suppressed, with structure protection efforts for the Black Eagle Mine as contingency. 

WEATHER: 

The weak weather system that moved through region yesterday morning brought some increased winds but cooler temperatures and slightly higher relative humidities, which moderated fire behavior. A weak high pressure ridge will build over the area Friday bringing higher temperatures and lower humidities, but the southwest winds will diminish to 6 mph with gusts to 16 mph. Saturday will see warmer temperatures and afternoon gusts up to 25 mph. Sunday will be cooler but with afternoon gusts up to 40 mph. 

FIRE BEHAVIOR: 

Decent overnight humidity recoveries have moderated fire behavior across both fires. Areas where humidities fell below 25% with gusty winds did experience some increased activity in heavy dead and down fuels. Controlling spot fires and direct line construction in these areas has been the most difficult. 

FOREST CLOSURES: For forest closure information please go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/scnf/alerts-notices 

EVACUATIONS:  For evacuation information in Lemhi County regarding these fires please go to: Emergency Management Department | Lemhi County, ID (lemhicountyidaho.org). 

Curent Situation:  

• The Lava Fire is 68% contained at 97,669 acres, with 452 personnel assigned. Acreage is down due to more accurate mapping. 
• On the east side of the fire, Idaho City Hotshots constructed handline from Snowbank Mountain to Gabe Peak. That portion accounted for the 1% increase in containment in rough country.  
• Hand crews also constructed hand line up the Willow Creek drainage yesterday and were able to secure the uncontrolled fire edge. 
• Firefighters scouted the area today west of God’s Acres and found pockets of heat. Crews plan on going direct in that area tomorrow.  A 3-acre spot fire was discovered in the Hurd Creek area. The Fulton Hotshots will be inserted there today to go direct on the fire.  
• Several spot fires outside the Lava Fire perimeter were discovered near Forest Road 653 yesterday and crews will be working on containing them with hand line today. 

Weather: Cooler temperatures and higher humidity were prevalent on Thursday. Sunny, warmer, and dryer air will move into the area today. Saturday is forecast to be the  warmest and dryest since the fire was active. A cold front is expected to pass over the fire area.  Little or no moisture is expected. Temperatures are expected to  drop back to seasonal, but will remain dry. 

Evacuations: A Level 1 “READY” notice remains for residents south of South Grays Creek, along Little Weiser River Road in Indian Valley, North of South Grays Creek Road to Highway 95, and the Mesa Area. Valley County Sheriff’s Office has removed Zones 2 & 3 from LEVEL 1 “READY” status. Zones 4 – 6 remain in a LEVEL 1 “READY” Evacuation notice.  

Closures: Closures: The Boise and Payette National Forests implemented a joint Lava Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure for public and firefighter safety. For more information see Payette National Forest closures or Boise National Forest closures. 

Gem County Road and Bridge issued the following road closures: Third Fork Road at Nesbitt Lane, Second Fork Road at Nesbitt Lane, and Nesbitt Lane. The Sweet-Ola Highway is closed at the High Valley intersection in Ola.   

Temporary Flight Restrictions: A temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been updated. View a map of the TFR and details at https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_8199.html. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft systems or drones. If you fly, we can’t! Learn more about how to use drones safely and responsibly at Home - Know Before You Fly. 

Fire Info Phone: 208-708-5003  Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Email: 2024.Lava@firenet.gov  . 

Facebook:@LavaFire Inciweb: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-lava-fire 

There have been 8 new fires reported on the Salmon-Challis National Forest since the last update on Monday, August 12, 2024.  To date, there have been 37 wildfires reported on the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  29 of the fires have been declared out.  The Salmon-Challis National Forest assisted with suppression on three (3) fire on Bureau of Land Management lands this past week.

Tillyhump (August 18): is located approximately nine (9) miles southeast of Baker on the Leadore Ranger District.  The 0.25 acre fire burning in timber is out.

Goldbug (August 18): is located approximately 16 miles south of Salmon on the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District.  The 0.30 acre fire burning in short grass and timber is 100% contained.

Birch (August 17):  is located on the west side of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River on Norton Ridge on the Middle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 0.50 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir.  The fire is surrounded by the 2022 Norton Fire and fire scars from the fires of 2000.

Hammer (August 16): is located approximately four (4) miles east of North Fork between Wagonhammer and Little Fourth of July Creeks on the North Fork Ranger District.  The fire is estimated at 8 acres in size.  The fire is 100% contained.

Sugarloaf (August 16): is located approximately 34 miles west of Salmon on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 0.25 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir.

Pass (August 15): is located approximately 20 miles southeast of Leadore on the Leadore Ranger District.  The 0.10 acre fire is out.

Twelve Mile (August 15):  is located approximately 12 miles south of Salmon on the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District.  The 0.25 acre fire is out.

Hawley (August 13): is located approximately 10 miles southeast of Leadore on the Leadore Ranger District.  The 0.10 acre fire burning in a single tree is out.

Patterson (August 11): is located approximately 14 miles east of May on the Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District.  The 0.10 acre fire is out.

Greyhound (August 11): is located approximately 46 miles northwest of Challis on the Middle Fork Ranger District.  The two (2) acre fire is burning in subalpine fir and lodgepole pine.  The fire is backing down until Sulphur Creek at the edge 2021 Boundary Creek Fire.  On last flight, two smokes were showing with no change in fire size since previous flight.  Firefighter and public safety is the number one priority for the Greyhound Fire.  During initial size up for the fire, several safety concerns were identified including: the remote location of the fire, steep and inaccessible terrain, heavy dead and down fuels with a substantial snag component, private property and associated mining infrastructure, and lack of safe ingress and egress for firefighters.  Fire managers will be monitoring the fire with reconnaissance flights and lookouts.  NFS Road #011 is a one way in, one way out roadway.  There is potential for this road to be closed in the future for public safety if there is a change in fire activity.  

Castle (August 11): is located approximately 33 miles southwest of Salmon on the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District.  The 0.25 acre fire burning in grass, brush, and fir is out.

Black Eagle (August 5): is located approximately 12 miles west of Forney on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The five (5) acre fire is burning in lodgepole and subalpine fir.  A few small areas of smoke was observed during yesterday’s flight over the fire area.

Pony (August 3): The fire is located approximately nine (9) miles west of Salmon on the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District burning in lodgepole pine is 100% contained and controlled at approximately 10 acres.

Deer (July 25): The lightning fire is located approximately 33 miles northwest of Challis, southeast of Pinyon Peak on the Middle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  Loon Creek Guard Station is east of the fire.  The fire, burning in grass and conifers is estimated at approximately 52 acres.  The fire is burning on both side of Rabbit Creek, in the 2006 Trail Creek Fire.  Fire managers are using 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. The strategy takes into account exposure to firefighters, values at risk, and wilderness values. Specific values potentially threatened with this fire include private land and Forest Service infrastructure. 

Thunder (July 24): The lightning fire is located approximately two (2) miles northwest of Williams Lake and approximately 12 miles southwest of Salmon.  The fire is 100% contained and estimated to be 2,474 acres in size and is burning in timber, sagebrush, and grass.

Ajax (July 24):  The lightning fire is located approximately 13 miles northeast of Salmon, approximately one (1) mile northwest of Ajax Peak on the east side of the Carmen Creek drainage on the North Fork Ranger District.  The Ajax Fire is estimated at four (4) acres and is out.

Weather:  ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...Southwest flow aloft will continue today and expect scattered thunderstorms this afternoon and a Red Flag Warning has been issued from noon to 6 pm. Will be dry on Tuesday with breezier conditions and 20 to 25 mph wind gusts expected.

The forest is asking visitors to be aware of the VERY HIGH fire danger for the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  The U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, and Bureau of Land Management in east-central Idaho are in Stage 1 fire restrictions.  The Central Idaho Fire Restrictions Area encompasses those portions of Custer County that are north and east of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (excluding the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness) and that portion of Lemhi County that is not federal land designated as wilderness.  One Less Spark Means One Less Wildfire.  Since June 1, Forest employees have found and extinguished at least 13 abandoned campfires.

Nationally, there are 62 uncontained large fires being managed under a full suppression strategy and 14 large fires managed under a strategy other than full suppression.

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

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There have been two (2) new fires reported on the Salmon-Challis National Forest since the last update on Monday, August 19, 2024.  To date, there have been 39 wildfires reported on the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  31 of the fires have been declared out.

Reynolds (August 22):  is located approximately 21 miles northwest of Indianola, approximately 5.5 miles northwest of Horse Creek Hot Springs Campground on the Idaho/Montana border.  Fire is estimated to be approximately 18 acres burning in spruce and fir.  The Bitterroot National Forest is lead on this fire.

Norton (August 20): is located approximately three (3) miles north of Lower Loon Creek Airstrip on the Middle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 0.10 acre fire burning in grass and a single Douglas fir is out.

Goldbug (August 18): is located approximately 16 miles south of Salmon on the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District.  The 0.30 acre fire burning in short grass and timber is out.

Birch (August 17):  is located on the west side of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River on Norton Ridge on the Middle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 13 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir.  The fire is surrounded by the 2022 Norton Fire and fire scars from the fires of 2000.

Hammer (August 16): is located approximately four (4) miles east of North Fork between Wagonhammer and Little Fourth of July Creeks on the North Fork Ranger District.  The fire is estimated at 8 acres in size.  The fire is 100% contained and controlled.

Sugarloaf (August 16): is located approximately 34 miles west of Salmon on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 0.25 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir.  No smoke was observed on the last flight over the fire area.

Greyhound (August 11): is located approximately 46 miles northwest of Challis on the Middle Fork Ranger District.  The 18 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir and lodgepole pine.  The fire is backing down until Sulphur Creek at the edge 2021 Boundary Creek Fire.  Firefighter and public safety is the number one priority for the Greyhound Fire.  During initial size up for the fire, several safety concerns were identified including: the remote location of the fire, steep and inaccessible terrain, heavy dead and down fuels with a substantial snag component, private property and associated mining infrastructure, and lack of safe ingress and egress for firefighters.  Fire managers will be monitoring the fire with reconnaissance flights and lookouts.  NFS Road #011 is a one way in, one way out roadway.  There is potential for this road to be closed in the future for public safety if there is a change in fire activity. 

Black Eagle (August 5): is located approximately 12 miles west of Forney on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 100 acre fire is burning in lodgepole and subalpine fir.  The fire is creeping and smoldering and is being monitored by aircraft and lookouts.

Pony (August 3): The fire is located approximately nine (9) miles west of Salmon on the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District burning in lodgepole pine is out at approximately 10 acres.

Deer (July 25): The lightning fire is located approximately 33 miles northwest of Challis, southeast of Pinyon Peak on the Middle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  Loon Creek Guard Station is east of the fire.  The fire, burning in grass and conifers is estimated at approximately 54 acres.  The fire is burning on both side of Rabbit Creek, in the 2006 Trail Creek Fire.  Fire managers are using 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. The strategy takes into account exposure to firefighters, values at risk, and wilderness values. Specific values potentially threatened with this fire include private land and Forest Service infrastructure. 

Thunder (July 24): The lightning fire is located approximately two (2) miles northwest of Williams Lake and approximately 12 miles southwest of Salmon.  The fire is 100% contained and estimated to be 2,474 acres in size and is burning in timber, sagebrush, and grass.

Thunder (July 24): The lightning fire is located approximately two (2) miles northwest of Williams Lake and approximately 12 miles southwest of Salmon.  The fire is 100% contained and estimated to be 2,474 acres in size and is burning in timber, sagebrush, and grass.

Weather:  Drier conditions are forecast today and Tuesday as a weak ridge of high pressure builds into the region. Temperatures warm slightly as well. The next system arrives early Wednesday with passage of a dry cold front. Expect winds to increase late Tuesday through Thursday in association with this feature.

The forest is asking visitors to be aware of the VERY HIGH fire danger for the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  The U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, and Bureau of Land Management in east-central Idaho are in Stage 1 fire restrictions.  The Central Idaho Fire Restrictions Area encompasses those portions of Custer County that are north and east of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (excluding the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness) and that portion of Lemhi County that is not federal land designated as wilderness.  One Less Spark Means One Less Wildfire.  Since June 1, Forest employees have found and extinguished at least 13 abandoned campfires.

Nationally, there are 54 uncontained large fires being managed under a full suppression strategy and 16 large fires managed under a strategy other than full suppression.

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

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