Incident Publication

The Salmon-Challis National Forest is terminating the Red Rock Fire closure #04-13-24-027 effective at 8:00 pm, Sunday, October 27, 2024.  

The following area is now open: (effective at 8:00 pm, Sunday, October 27, 2024):  

DESCRIBED AREA, ROADS AND TRAILS: 

Beginning at the junction of Iron Creek Road 045 and Ridge Road 020 and following Ridge Road 020, Williams Creek Road 021, and Deep Creek Road 101, and Morgan-Panther Creek Road 055 to where it meets Big Deer Creek, the following Big Deer Creek to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Boundary, then following the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Boundary and Hoodoo Creek to Yellowjacket Road 112, then following Yellowjacket Road 112 to Little Yellowjacket Creek, to Duck Peak Road 021, to Cabin Creek and along the Prairie Basin Trail 035, Moyer Basin Trail 036, Moyer Creek Road 103, and Thunder Mountain Historic Trail 040 to Ridge Road 020, then following Ridge Road 020 to the junction with Iron Creek Road 045.

After the Red Rock Fire; Entering a fire area:

Living with fire requires vigilance and caution when entering burned areas. During this time there will still be fire burning and smoldering in the area. Be prepared with the proper tools, equipment, and supplies when entering these areas. 

• Burned/dead trees or snags: Snags are dead or dying trees that are still standing. After a fire, the root systems of trees can become weakened and damaged, and the damage may not be readily visible. This increases the potential for the trees to fall, often without any warning. Winds and steep slopes increase the risk of falling snags. Use extreme caution when walking or entering an area with damaged trees.
• Ash pits: Ash pits are holes in the ground filled with ash, often with hot embers beneath. These pits are remnants of wildfires.  They can be difficult to detect and stepping into a pit can cause burns to feet and legs or injure pets. A thin layer of white ash is one of the indicators of an ash pit.
• Rolling debris: Trees, rocks, mud, and soil can become dislodged and loosened during a fire. Embankments may no longer be able hold the vegetation and soil in place, and debris will roll downhill. Mud and rockslides can occur often without warning. Use caution when entering a valley or any low area that is below the burn.
• Weather: Rain and wind will increase existing hazards. Mudslides and falling trees are more apt to occur when subjected to winds and/or rain after a fire. The rains loosen the rocks and the soil, and the winds can topple fire damaged trees.
• Tools/Equipment: Make sure to bring a chainsaw and other equipment with you when enter a burned area. The weather can fell trees across the roadways as well as inside the fire perimeter. Wear safety glasses and gloves, as well as the proper headwear and footwear. Dress appropriately for weather conditions.
• Traffic: Be vigilant when entering and leaving the area. Fire traffic will still be in the area.

The Ridge Road #020 from Williams Summit south to the intersection with Iron Creek Road #045 is subject to temporary closure due to fire suppression repair activities.  There may be short delays on other roads in the area as equipment closes out work and leaves the area before the snowstorm moves into the area this evening, lasting through Tuesday late afternoon, bringing on the incident somewhere from 1.8 to 6.5 inches on the ridges, and rain or snow up to 1.5 inches in the Panther Creek drainage.

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

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 With the return of warmer, drier and windier weather over the fire area, fire activity has increased today on the Elk Fire.  

One of the areas showing active fire and smoke is located in the mountains above Soldier Creek.   

Fire operations has aerial resources engaged, and will use helicopters, if needed, to ensure that this fire activity, along with other isolated areas of increased burning, do not threaten firelines or key values at risk.

Size at time of update: 33,041 Acres
Containment: 51% 
Personnel: 244 
Start: Saturday, September 28, 2024 
Cause: Human Caused (Under Investigation) 
Location: 10 miles southeast of Francis, Utah

Yesterday, crews worked diligently to gain containment along the fire’s perimeter, increasing to 51%. It is important to note, containment will not be complete before the predicted weather and storm. The incoming snowstorm will not be a season-ending event but will help gain containment.

Along the north half of the fire, along Iron Mine Road, crews continue to seek and drown hot spots and fall hazardous trees. The fire perimeter along this road remains most of the last uncontained line. Yesterday, crews saw single tree torching interior along the North Fork of the Duchesne, which was a reminder of how unseasonable the weather has been. The fire is not out, and there is still a significant amount of heat in this area. Continued fire activity, along with fire weakened trees, and hot ash pits, are some of the reasons the forest closures remain in effect.

The two main efforts of work on the ground continue to be extinguishing areas of heat and repairing damage done by the fire and fire suppression efforts. There are places around the perimeter that have required more attention often due to steep slopes, heavy fuels, and intensive use of heavy equipment. Examples of these areas are Lambert Hollow on the westside and the ridge above the North Fork of the Duchesne. 

To request a permit to access property within the forest closures to retrieve important items, livestock, or winterize buildings, please contact the liaison officer at 2024.yellowlake.liaison@firenet.gov.  

Forest Closures:

• Updated October 18, 2024, the Yellow Lake Fire closure area has been reduced on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This Order shall remain in effect until November 25, 2024, unless rescinded.
  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/uwcnf/alerts-notices
   
• Updated October 19, 2024, the Yellow Lake Fire closure area has been reduced on the Ashley National Forest. This closure will remain in place through December 31, 2024, or until rescinded. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ashley/alerts-notices

Rail Ridge Fire Update

Sunday, October 27, 2024

Central Oregon Wildfire Information: centraloregonfire.org

Email: 2024.railridge@firenet.gov  ~  Phone: 541-208-7111

Social Media, Evacuation and Closure Information: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire
 

Acres: 176,619  ~  Containment: 92%  ~  Start Date: 09/02/24  ~  Cause: Lightning 

**This is the final update for the Rail Ridge Fire **

Today, Northwest Team 2 is completing their work on the Rail Ridge Fire. Heavy equipment is being pulled off of fire lines and roads in anticipation of hazardous weather conditions. Fire personnel are making their final patrols of the fire, retrieving remaining hoses, pumps, signs, flagging, and other items from the firefighting efforts. Most resources are being released to return to their home units. Some personnel will stay to break down the Incident Command Post near Dayville and to provide further assistance to the local agencies. 

Hunting, Recreation and Fire Closure Areas:  Closures remain in place today on the Ochoco and Malheur National Forests, BLM lands, and areas managed by ODFW. These closures will be changing on Monday, October 28. Please see the agency websites for the latest updates. Closures have been established for public safety, wildfire recovery projects and resource protection. Please stay out of the closure areas and “know before you go” into the area.

This will be the last update from Northwest Team 2. For further updates and information after 6:00 p.m. on October 28, including current information about closures and restrictions, please contact the following:

Prineville BLM, Deschutes Field Office: https://www.blm.gov/office/prineville-district-office

541- 416-6864
lmclark@blm.gov

Ochoco National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/ochoco 

541-416-6647
isabella.isaksen@usda.gov

Malheur National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur 

541-575-3008
amy.franklin1@usda.gov

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife - Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area

https://myodfw.com/phillip-w-schneider-wildlife-area-visitors-guide

For access information: 541-318-7972

For tag and related information: 541-620-1047

USFS & BLM Closures / Evacuation Information / Fire Restrictions / Social Media for the Rail Ridge Fire area can be found at: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire.

Sunday, October 27, 2024 Update

Fire Information Phone: 307-395-2351      8am-8pm   

Email: 2024.Packtrail@firenet.gov

Total Acres: 89,930 

Confined: 70%

Total Personnel: 503

Operations – On the north and east sides of the Pack Trail Fire, crews continue to complete fire suppression repair; rehabilitating dozer and handlines, road grading, and ditching.  Cold trailing continues along the fire perimeter as safety hazards allow. Crews continue to break down and back haul remaining structure protection equipment along Highway 26. On the southwestern flank, crews continue to secure the fire’s edge, cold trailing and extinguishing any remaining visible smoke. Crews are cleaning ditches as the chipping of slash from shaded fuel breaks is complete from Union Pass to the Strawberry Warming Hut area. Crews are repairing fence around Bacon Creek. Precipitation and cold temperatures continue to aid suppression efforts on the fire.  Helicopters are being utilized in the backcountry to backhaul unnecessary equipment and supplies.  

Safety – Despite the recent and predicted precipitation, Teton Interagency Fire Managers are maintaining the Very High Fire Danger Rating for Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, the Shoshone National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge. This precipitation was not a fire season-ending event. Due to wind, fuels will begin to rapidly dry out when the snow melts. Residents and visitors are reminded to exercise extreme caution when dealing with fires or other possible ignition sources. 

Please use caution while driving in these areas, especially on narrow secondary roads. Always expect to encounter fire vehicles and heavy equipment in and around the fire area. Check with WY-DOT for possible closures due to fire activity, especially if you are planning to travel on US-26 across the Continental Divide. 

“If you fly, we can’t.” Remember that flying a personal drone over a fire area during a temporary flight restriction is illegal and can be an extremely dangerous threat to our aviators and firefighters on the ground. 

Weather—Today will be mostly sunny, with temperatures of 54-59 degrees and minimum relative humidities of 18-23%. Winds from the south to southwest will be 8-13 MPH with gusts up to 28 MPH. High pressure will remain in the area today before a cold front moves into the area on Monday and Tuesday bringing with it rain and snow showers. Accumulations of measurable snow (3-7 inches) are predicted for upper elevations on the fire.  To learn more about air quality, visit Fire.AirNow.Gov.

Evacuations – Evacuation areas have been reduced to a Level 1 “Ready” status for the Union Pass subdivision, Lava Mountain Lodge, Triangle C Ranch, and Old Mackenzie Ranch.  All other evacuation areas have been rescinded.  See the Fremont County Emergency Management Facebook Page for alerts and updates. See the Teton County Emergency Management website updates and to sign up for emergency alerts through Everbridge.

Road Closures – The Union Pass Road is closed on the Pinedale Ranger District (BTNF) from Mosquito Lake to the Moon Lake Road on the Wind River District (SHO). Moon Lake Road is also closed. 

Forest Closures - Closure Order #04-03-24-317 is in effect from October 14, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. through November 15, 2024 at 12:00 a.m. unless rescinded. This order supersedes previous orders, including #04-03-24-316, prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same described area. 

For more information, visit: Facebook: USDA Forest Service - Bridger-Teton National Forest, USDA Forest Service - Shoshone National Forest  Pack Trail Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wybtf-pack-trail-fire

SHOE FIRE

 DAILY UPDATE

 October 27, 2024 

Email: 2024.shoe@firenet.gov 

Incident Website: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cashf-shoe-fire 

Forest Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/stnf 

Fire Weather Forecast: https://www.weather.gov/wrh/CAFW?area=ECC005 

Fire Information Line: 530-338-0317 (Staffed 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM) 

Quick Facts: 

Location: Shasta County, CA │ Start Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 6:57 PM │ Cause: Human 

Size: 5,124 │ Containment: 60%│ Vegetation: Timber, Chapparal │ Total Personnel Assigned: 839 

Aggressive suppression actions over the past few weeks have contributed to an increase in containment. Yesterday, scattered heat lingered in interior areas where heavy logs were smoldering. However, minimal smoke was observed throughout the majority of the fire area. Crews have thoroughly mopped up and gridded much of the fire perimeter that shows little to no heat. Firefighters installed water bars on hand lines and removed excess hose and equipment to be sent back to supply caches. Helicopter crews flew the fire area to assess and verify several temporary landing sites that could be utilized for an emergency.

Today, rain showers will subdue fire behavior and help to keep the fire within the exiting footprint. Excavators continue to repair dozer lines to promote proper drainage on slopes by installing water bars and covering dozer lines with woody debris. This work is essential given the coming rains and potential for erosion and sediment movement into water ways. Masticators are assisting with fire suppression repair and road graders have begun repairing roads due to wear from increased travel by fire resources. 

WEATHER: A cold storm system will result in higher humidity and temperatures lowering into the mid to low 50s. Winds will be gusty out of the southwest, up to 20-25 mph on the ridges. Rainfall amounts between 0.25-0.40 inches will be possible between Sunday morning and Monday afternoon. More precipitation is expected later in the week, with rain in the lower elevation and snow possible above 4000 feet.

SMOKE: Updates on smoke conditions can be found under the following link: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/59ecb6c0? 

CLOSURES AND SAFETY: 

• Fenders Ferry Road at Pit River 7 Bridge: West-Bound Fenders Ferry Road (Also known as 34N17 - Forest Service Road 27) at the Pit River Bridge/Pit 7 
• Ferry Road is closed at McCloud Bridge: East-Bound Fenders Ferry Road at the McCloud River Bridge 
• A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_2632.html. Drones are prohibited from flying in fire areas. If you fly, we can’t.
• A temporary Forest closure is in effect https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/stnf/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5392380

Red Rock Fire  

Operations:   

Thanks to a favorable weather day, crews have made further progress increasing completion by an additional 8 percent. Fire Managers continue to work closely with local resource advisors to finish repairs and focus the efforts of fire resources prior to the incoming weather. Crews have almost completed the removal of pumps, hoses, and portable water tanks along multiple areas of the fire. Additionally, several pieces of equipment will be finishing repairing dozer line and other areas impacted by fire suppression activities. 

Additional Information  

Featured Information:

Weather changes have significantly reduced fire activity, prompting a multifaceted suppression strategy for the Red Rock Fire that combines containment and confinement tactics. 

Fire Area Map

Sun, 10/27/2024 - 10:06

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Fire Area Map

• Containment involves establishing control lines expected to halt the fire's spread. 
• Confinement uses natural features—such as rock bands, ridges, burn scars, or changes in fuel types—to limit growth. 

Both strategies are expressed as percentages, reflecting overall progress. The Red Rock Fire will be reported as completion percentages, with a continued focus on protecting critical assets and ensuring the safety of firefighters and the public.

Weather: 

Today will be the beginning of a trend of dropping temperatures, and snow to the upper elevations of the fire. This snow line with be decreasing almost to the valley floor as the system moves through on Monday with snow amounts of up to 4” possible. 

Closures: 

The Red Rock Closure Order, Number: 04-13-24-027 remains in effect. Please adhere to closure orders, as this is crucial for the safety of both the public and firefighters. Even in areas with minimal fire activity, crews are continuing to operate heavy equipment and make repairs. Barricades and closures will be posted at road intersections and forest boundaries. In coordination with the Lemhi County Sheriff's Office and the Salmon-Challis National Forest, residents of Yellowjacket and Panther Creek may access their properties via the road, after checking in with the road guard. For more info:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/scnf/alerts-notices. 

Elk Fire Update

Sunday, October 27, 2024 – 9:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Phone: 307-303-7642

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Email:2024.Elk@firenet.gov

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wybhf-elk-fire-2024

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/bighornnf

Information Linktree:https://linktr.ee/2024ElkFire

Special Notes: A community meeting is planned for 6 p.m. Monday, October 28th, at the Sheridan Junior High School, located at 500 Lewis Street. The meeting will be recorded and posted to Facebook and virtual connection will be available through Facebook live streaming at: https://www.facebook.com/bighornnf.

Current Situation: Firefighters took advantage of yesterday’s dry and warm conditions, which allowed for the continuation of suppression repair work and strengthening of indirect firelines. Fire acreage did expand slightly due to field verification of infrared mapping. No actual fire growth occurred. Little change in tactics will occur today, and smoke will once again be noticeable as fuels are consumed in the fire’s interior. Warm, dry temperatures are predicted again, and wind gusts will be escalating throughout the day, ranging from 30-40 mph. These winds will be a good test of firelines, although they pose an increased risk to firefighters due to greater potential for falling burned trees or snags. Extra caution will be required. Firefighters will be striving to complete work where feasible before rain and snow begin tomorrow evening, as significant amounts are predicted. 

Division A: This division continues to be unstaffed and observed by aircraft. 

Divisions Z, P, M, K, I: Firefighters saw some amplified fire behavior in Division I yesterday, although little change was observed in other divisions. Previous day’s operations will continue being implemented as firefighters try to complete as much suppression repair work as possible before the winter weather arrives.

Division H: Heavy equipment working on the shaded fuel break made headway moving past Long Park on the Red Grade Road and Forest Road 26. More progress is expected today.

Divisions D, F: Suppression repair supported with chipping operations occurred and is expected to conclude tomorrow. 

Weather, Fuels, and Fire Behavior: Temperatures will be above normal again today ranging from the 60s to lower 70s depending on elevation. Humidity will be below 20% and winds will range from 12-17 mph. Wind gusts will increase throughout the day and be active overnight as the winter weather storm is pulled into the area. Smoke will continue to be visible due to some active fire behavior where fine fuels are exposed to sunlight, wind, and in proximity to heavy fuels that have held heat. Fire spread outside the current perimeter is unlikely due to the minimal presence of heat sources near firelines.

Evacuations: All evacuations for the Elk Fire have been lifted.

Closures and Advisories: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Elk Fire. Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Red Grade Road is closed. US Highway 14 between Burgess Junction and Dayton is open, restrictions are in place for some commercial vehicles based on weight and size. Additional information is at: https://www.wyroad.info/.

Bighorn National Forest closure Order No. 02-02-06-24-08 remains in effect. The order and map can be viewed here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bighorn/alerts-notices.

Elk Fire Statistics: Size: 98,185 acres | Containment: 73% | Total Personnel: 529 | Location: West of Sheridan, WY

Reported: September 27, 2024 | Cause: lightning

Fire crews wrapped up much of the treatment on the North Hart Prescribed Fire in Valle Vidal today. Here’s the latest:

• With the assistance of a helicopter, crews completed ignitions on the remaining acres of the 1,871-acre unit. Some clean-up ignitions may occur on Sunday.
• Personnel will pivot to a long-term patrol and monitor plan as fuels continue to burn. Smoke will continue to be visible from the area but not as heavy as during ignitions.
• The completion of ignitions today adds to a large continuous area of forest, now about 24,000 acres, that has been treated with fire over the past several years. The ponderosa and dry mixed conifer forests of the Valle Vidal need regular fire to maintain ecosystem health.
• Like yesterday, fire personnel from various partner agencies participated in today’s work: Vermejo Reserve/Colfax County Fire Dept., Red River Fire Dept. the Nature Conservancy/Ember Alliance and National Park Service. Students from the National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center also helped.
• Additionally, fire staff from across the Carson National Forest, as well as from archeology and recreation, came together to make this project happen.

Project Background

The North Hart Prescribed Fire is a cross-boundary burn between Carson National Forest and Vermejo Reserve. It’s the first project on the forest that uses a congressionally authorized tool known as a Wyden Agreement to collaboratively conduct restoration work across boundaries to protect, restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat.

The unit is about evenly split between Forest Service and Vermejo Reserve lands. The area last experienced fire in 2002 during the Ponil Complex Fire, and this work helps maintain the health of fire-dependent ponderosa stands and grasslands.

The public can learn more about prescribed fires on the Carson National Forest at fs.usda.gov/goto/CarsonRx.

Size at time of update: 33,041 Acres
Containment: 45%
Personnel: 244
Start: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Cause: Human Caused (Under Investigation)
Location: 10 miles southeast of Francis, Utah

As the area dries out between storms, firefighters on Yellow Lake Fire continue to experience smoldering, creeping, and single tree torching. Most of this activity is occurring within the interior and not threatening the line, but there are still significant heat sources showing on the infrared flights. 

Temperatures rose to 60 degrees yesterday and are expected to again today, with low humidity. Thankfully, winds were not as strong, allowing crews to continue to directly suppress heat sources.

Containment will likely continue to creep upwards, as crews work their way around the uncontained perimeter. Most of the areas of uncontained line are in steep, rugged terrain that is difficult to access. Firefighters walk the perimeter cold-trailing, using their hand to feel for heat sources and drown and stir any that are identified. 

Firefighters continue to work in the contained portions of the fire to repair the areas from damage from the fire as well as suppression efforts, such as dozerline and handline. Heavy equipment has been assisting crews in rehabilitating these areas to minimize the impact and visibility of these lines. 

As the Northern Utah Team works diligently, full containment is not likely going to be reached before the predicted storm arrives Monday. These winter storms assist in cooling and slowing the fire, as was seen with the storm last week. However, rain and snow also limit crew access to the fire. The heavy equipment will work until Monday, when it will be removed due to the incoming snow. 

The Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) team will have an intensive few days on the ground as they assess damage done by the fire. More snow is expected on Monday night around the footprint of the fire. The BAER team hopes to have some of their site visits completed by the next snow. 

 To request a permit to access property within the forest closures to retrieve important items, livestock, or winterize buildings, please contact the liaison officer at 2024.yellowlake.liaison@firenet.gov. 

Forest Closures: 

• Updated October 18, 2024, the Yellow Lake Fire closure area has been reduced on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This Order shall remain in effect until November 25, 2024, unless rescinded.
  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/uwcnf/alerts-notices
   
• Updated October 19, 2024, the Yellow Lake Fire closure area has been reduced on the Ashley National Forest. This closure will remain in place through December 31, 2024, or until rescinded. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ashley/alerts-notices