Incident Publication

Current Situation: The Tiger Creek Fire is currently 611 acres, seven percent contained with 341 firefighting resources assigned. Poor overnight relative humidity recoveries in the mid-elevations continue to plague firefighting efforts exacerbated by lower-than-normal relative humidity during the day. Aviation assets located a 50 x 50-foot spot fire east of the 65 road and were able to immediately drop water on it allowing crews the opportunity to contain it. On the fire’s northern flank work will continue to build and improve handlines, working to tie-in the line around the northeast flank of the fire below Low Ridge.  Closer to the 65 Road on the fire’s eastern flank, hotshot crews continue to cut line around the spot fire, now estimated at 120 acres burning within the Low Creek drainage. Crews have successfully placed hose-lays into the lower portion of Tiger Creek as the fire slowly backs down toward the municipal water system.

The lack of fire history within the area has resulted in a large component of dead surface fuels in the understory. Fuels and terrain are extreme in some locations and pose significant challenges for holding actions. Due to fuels, winds, steep slopes, and lack of natural control features within the area, the potential for fire growth is moderate. Fuel types within the area are burning readily during daytime burn periods when conditions align.  

Aviation resources are available and will aid in slowing the fire’s spread with four Type-1 aircraft, one Type-2 aircraft and one Type-3 aircraft assigned to the incident.

Closures and Restrictions: Access through Forest Service Road (FSR) 65 up through FSR 64 to the junction with Indian Camp is closed. Government Mountain Road/FSR 6511 is closed from North Fork Walla Walla trailhead to the junction with FSR 65 at Tiger Saddle. Government Mountain Rd/FSR 6511 is open from the west to North Fork Walla Walla trailhead. The current fire danger rating is MODERATE and public use restrictions phase A for Umatilla National Forest are in effect. For more information regarding restrictions, please contact Umatilla National Forest Toll-free Information Hotline: 1.877.958.9663.

 Weather: Sunny with highs in the mid-60s to lower 70s and afternoon humidity around 20-30%. Light upslope winds will develop in terrain around 1000 with ridgetop winds from the south-southwest 3-7 mph with gusts around 10 mph. Clear tonight. Lows in the lower 40s to lower 50s in the thermal belt (4500-5000 feet elevation). Excellent humidity recovery at lower elevations with poor recovery in the thermal belt. Light winds from the south along ridgetops. Winds in terrain will be light and downslope. Broad, weak high pressure lingering over the Pacific Northwest today will shift east by tomorrow. Skies remain clear into Tuesday followed by a gradual increase in clouds Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Smoke: Walla Walla’s air quality for today is good and remains steady, some residents along Mill Creek may experience smoke as the fire continues to burn. Check out https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/?m=1 for more information. 

Current Situation:

Some smoke will continue north of Angelus Oaks for a few days as a green island is consumed. Crews are engaged, and there is no concern. Smoke seen from the Arctic Circle is coming from two ridges back where there is still some heat, but no threat to the line. Demobilization of some crews and resources will be happening over the next few days. Crews that remain will be working on suppression repair, as well as direct and indirect line construction.

Higher than average temperatures continue throughout today, with temperatures starting to drop tomorrow. Fire behavior will remain challenging throughout the week with stronger afternoon winds, with gusts reaching near 22 mph. With the continued dry heat, the fire area is under a Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory, with low overnight humidity further drying out fuels. The main challenge in these conditions continues to be focused around Angelus Oaks off Highway 38, with additional concerns south of Big Bear near Mile Creek and in the Santa Ana River drainage. Inaccessible areas at the confluence of Bear and Siberia Creeks are susceptible to slope reversals due to the continuing dry, hot weather patterns.

Evacuation orders remain in place for the Barton Flats, Pinezanita and Seven Oaks communities. Evacuation warnings are still in effect for the Angelus Oaks area.

Highway 330 remains closed from Highland Avenue to Highway 18 as CalTrans performs repairs to the road and guardrails. Highway 38 is still closed from Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams.

The closure orders for the San Bernardino National Forest remain in place.

Public information line: 909.220.4292

Media Line: 925.542.9164

Containment grows to 23% in Bingham Fire

Daily Update: October 7, 2024

Fire Information Phone: 503-854-3366 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) 

Email: 2024.Bingham@firenet.gov 

Acres: 183      Containment: 23%

Location: Areas of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, east of Marion Forks.

Start Date: September 30,2024             Personnel:   308                 

Resources: 9 crews | 11 engines | 1 bulldozer | 2 water tenders |

Highlights: The Bingham Fire remained at 183 acres, but containment grew to 23 percent as firefighters secured segments along the southern and northern portions of the fire. Crews also completed digging containment lines around the fire’s entire 4.4-mile perimeter. These lines, however, are not considered fully contained until they are widened and nearby heat sources extinguished, giving fire managers greater confidence that flames won’t spread outside of them.

Firefighters will focus efforts today widening containment lines and identifying nearby hot spots. Progress will be slow, however, as crews negotiate working amid an abundance of standing dead trees killed by previous wildfires 10 to 15 years earlier, making the trees particularly dangerous as a falling hazard.

Crews also will continue work on contingency containment lines near the community of Marion Forks, which is situated about 2 miles northwest of the fire’s western boundary. Work will include removing dead or hazardous trees along Marion Creek Road (NFS Road 2255) that could block access or escape or even cause injury to homeowners or other motorists visiting the area. 

Evacuations: LEVEL 3: GO NOW! evacuation alerts have been issued by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office for a large area of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness. Additionally, LEVEL 2: GET SET evacuation alerts have been issued for the area around Marion Forks Campground and Marion Forks Fish Hatchery. The Level 2 evacuation area also extends along Highway 22, to a ½-mile west of Highway 22, from Pamelia Road (NFS Road 2246) south to Parrish Lake Road (NFS Road 2266). Please refer to the Linn County Wildfire Map for more information: https://tinyurl.com/LinnCoFireMap. Highway 22 remains open at this time. 

The Willamette National Forest issued an updated formal closure Oct. 4 in the same footprint of the Level 3 Evacuation here: https://tinyurl.com/26jpr9a6.  A large evacuation area like this is necessary to give wildfire response teams enough space to safely travel to and fight the fire as crews will be on road systems and trails and air assets may be utilizing nearby water sources. The fire itself is much smaller than the evacuation area. The Pacific Crest Trail through the Mount Jefferson Wilderness is expected to remain open. The trails and roads west of the highway are closed from Pamelia to Big Meadows Loop/Turpentine Loop area. With hunting season started, Forest Service staff will work with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office to reduce closure areas as soon as it is safe to do so.

Weather: Temperatures are forecasted to climb into the upper 70s today, but expected to fall back into the 60s by Tuesday. A 10 percent chance of rain is expected by Tuesday or Wednesday.

There have been no new fires reported on the Salmon-Challis National Forest since the last update on Monday, September 30, 2024.  To date, there have been 64 wildfires reported on the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  53 of the fires have been declared out.  

Mowitch (September 29): is approximately three (3) miles north of Indian Creek on the Middle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 993 acre fire is burning in grass, brush, spruce, fir, and ponderosa pine.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-mowitch-fire.  

Nugget (September 13): is located approximately 40 miles west of Salmon on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The 994 acre fire is burning in fir.  The fire is surrounded by and in fire scars from 2005, 2013, and 2015.  Fire managers are recommending the public do not enter the Nugget and Cradle Creek drainages.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-nugget-fire.  

Garden (September 8):  is located approximately two (2) miles southwest of the confluence of Panther Creek and the Main Salmon River on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  The fire is approximately 7,186 acres burning in grass, brush, and timber.  The fire is being managed by a local Type III organization and is being reported separately.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-garden-fire.  

Vanity (September 3): is located approximately 42 miles west of Challis on the Middle Fork Ranger District.  The approximately 600 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir and is surrounded by the 2012 Halstead 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. Specific values potentially threatened with this fire include Forest Service infrastructure.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-vanity.  

Red Rock (September 2):  is located approximately two (2) miles east of Yellowjacket Guard Station on the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District.  The Red Rock Fire experienced extreme fire behavior on October 4 due to the passing wind event with gusts up to 56 miles per hour recorded.  The Black Eagle fire merged with the Red Rock Fire.  The combined fire is now known as the Red Rock Fire and is being reported as such.  A Type III Incident Management Team is managing the fire and information is being reported separately.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-red-rock-fire.    

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 2,671 acres burning in spruce and fir.  The Bitterroot National Forest is lead on this fire.

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 13,274 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir.  The fire is surrounded by the 2022 Norton Fire and fire scars from the fires of 2000.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-birch-fire.  

Greyhound (August 11): is located approximately 46 miles northwest of Challis on the Middle Fork Ranger District.  The 97 acre fire is burning in subalpine fir and lodgepole pine on the edge of the 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.  

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 Black Eagle Fire experienced extreme fire behavior on October 4 due to the passing wind event with gusts up to 56 miles per hour recorded.  The fire grew to the northeast and merged with the Red Rock Fire.  The combined fire is now known as the Red Rock Fire and is being reported as such.  A Type III Incident Management Team is managing the fire and information is being reported separately.  The fire can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-red-rock-fire.  

Wapiti (July 24):  started on the Boise National Forest, burned onto the Sawtooth National, and around August 24th burned onto the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  A Complex Incident Management Team is managing the fire.  Information can be found on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-wapiti-fire.  

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 controlled, fire size is estimated to be 2,474 acres and is burning in timber, sagebrush, and grass.  

Weather:  Weak westerly flow today will keep skies clear and continue the warming trend, although afternoon humidity should change little.  A very weak low will shift wind to more southwesterly starting tonight. This will bring in more cloudiness, but the chance for precipitation is still nearly zero. Wind should peak on Wednesday afternoon with the low passing to the east, bringing slightly colder air for Thursday.

The forest is asking visitors to be aware of the HIGH fire danger for the Salmon-Challis National Forest.  Ensure your campfire is dead out. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave! One Less Spark Means One Less Wildfire.  Since June 1, Forest employees have found and extinguished at least 13 abandoned campfires.  

Nationally, there are 27 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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Elkhorn Fire Update 10/7/2024:

Today’s forecast indicates favorable weather conditions for firefighting activities and is it expected that firefighters will be able to maintain progress on containment of the fire perimeter. The North Dakota National Guard will utilize a helicopter to drop water in rugged terrain and other possible trouble spots on the north and east side of the fire. 

Local roads are being used extensively by first responders actively engaged in firefighting activities. For your safety and the safety of the firefighters, we are asking you to stay away from the fire area. 

A preliminary map of the fire’s perimeter is attached. Data was provided by the Civil Air Patrol. 

Fire information can also be found on InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nddpf-elkhorn-fire

Elk Fire Update – October 7, 2024 

Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 

Casey Cheesbrough, Incident Commander  

Date Reported: Friday, September 27, 2024 

Cause: Undetermined  

Size: 72,998 

Containment: 10% 

Total Personnel: 680

Location: Approximately 6 miles northwest of Dayton and 6 miles southeast of Dayton, Wyoming 

Key Messages: The fire is now 10% contained. The added containment is along the northeast edge of the fire, to the north of Dayton. Efforts on the southern end of the fire are focused on taking actions to get ahead of fire movement and protect communities, as well as municipal watersheds in the Big Goose drainage, that are potentially threatened by the fire. Crews will be working using a variety of tools, such as structure protection and fireline construction, to prepare for future potential fire movement.  

Current Situation: Smoke is settling over the Elk Fire area from fires further to the west. This is expected to continue and is likely to keep fire activity lower today. This smoke may also impact air operations as helicopters need a minimum of one mile visibility to operate safely on wildland fires. 

Structure protection work will continue northwest of the fire in Little Horn Canyon and subdivisions along US HWY 14 between Dayton and Burgess Junction. They will be patrolling and mopping up any heat sources around structures. Structure protection is accomplished through a variety of methods such as removal of vegetation near structures, construction of fireline, and placement of hose and sprinklers where possible. On the eastern side of the fire, firefighters will continue to extinguish areas of heat along established firelines.  Crews will also continue to patrol the area that is now contained.  

South of the fire, crews are implementing strategies intended to protect homes, communities, the Sheridan watershed, and key infrastructure. The work includes developing new fireline on Red Grade Road near Bighorn, using heavy equipment and several fire crews. Structure protection tactics have been utilized to prepare the Big Goose Water Treatment facility for any fire that may move into the area. Efforts continue to minimize fire effects to the Big Goose Creek watershed, which feeds the water treatment facility. 

Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority. The tactics used to suppress the fire will be determined by the terrain, fire and weather conditions, and medical response time with a focus on implementing plans and tactics that have a high probability of success. 

Approximately 700 cattle were transported off the fire area this morning. This was possible through the collaborative efforts of this community and agencies supporting the fire.  

Closures and Evacuations: The newest evacuation map can be found at the Sheridan County Emergency Management website, Sheridan County (sheridancountywy.gov). US Highway 14 remains closed from Dayton to Burgess Junction. See todays new release regarding temporary access to Red Grade Road for cabin owners. Please contact the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office at 307-672-3455 or Sheridan County Emergency Management at 307-752-2174 for more information on evacuations and road closures.  

The Bighorn National Forest Closure has been expanded to include the closure of Red Grade Road. Please view the updated order on the Bighorn National Forest website, Bighorn National Forest - Alerts & Closures (usda.gov). 

Weather & Smoke Information: Today will continue to bring warm and dry conditions to the fire area as a high pressure system moves into the area. Winds are expected to be light and terrain-driven over the course of the day. Smoke from fires further to the west may cause smoke shading and keep temperatures lower than the forecasted highs ranging in the mid 60s to low 70s. 

It is anticipated that the Elk Fire will continue to put up a smoke column; please go to the AirNow website (https://www.airnow.gov/) for smoke information. 

Fire Name: Garden Fire 

Fire Size: 7,186 acres 

Cause: lightning 

Location: approximately two (2) miles southwest of the confluence of Panther Creek and the Main Salmon River on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. 

Fuels: grass, brush, dead and down fuels, and timber

Resources: 150 people  

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idscf-garden-fire  

Fire situation: Firefighter and public safety is the number one priority for the Garden 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, including private property and Forest Service infrastructure. 

Yesterday, the inversion layer did not lift, which helped to moderate fire activity.  The fire continues to grow in the Garden Creek drainage and to the ridge to the north, towards the Salmon River.  Fire is currently holding in the upper reaches of Clear Creek, however between lower Clear Creek, Dry, Tea, and Bear Gulches, the fire is backing down towards Panther Creek.  Due to limited visibility, fire managers are using an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) technology for infrared flights and small scale firing operations to help secure the fire’s edges. 

With additional resources arriving, the fire has added a night shift.  Today, the presence of firefighters, primarily in the Panther Creek and Salmon River areas will continue as crews continue to work to evaluate and assess various point protection strategies to minimize impacts to values in the area. Aircraft, both fixed wing and helicopters, will be used if weather and smoke conditions allow.  Fire managers are continuing to look for opportunities to engage the fire direct as fuels and weather conditions change and it is safe to do so.

Evacuations:  Lemhi County Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and the Salmon-Challis National Forest have established 2 evacuation zones for the Garden Fire. 

Zone 1: From Cove Creek to Ebeneezer Bar, downriver along the Salmon River Road #030.

Zone 2: On Panther Creek Rd #055, a half mile south of Beaver Creek Rd #057 to the Salmon River Rd #030 confluence.

ZONE 1 is in “READY” status

ZONE 2 is in “GO” status

Weather: Weak westerly flow today will keep skies clear and continue the warming trend, although afternoon humidity should change little.  A very weak low will shift wind to more southwesterly starting tonight. This will bring in more cloudiness, but the chance for precipitation is still nearly zero. Wind should peak on Wednesday afternoon with the low passing to the east, bringing slightly colder air for Thursday.

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

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FIRE ACTIVITY: 

Fire Size: 57,815 acres 

Containment: 18% 

Both the Red Rock and Black Eagle Fires experienced extreme fire behavior on October 4, 2024, and grew exponentially to the northeast, merging together just north of Yellowjacket. The combined fire is now known as the Red Rock Fire. 

Active fire behavior continues in the fire area, including wind-driven runs on exposed slopes with receptive fuel beds. Crews have been reinserted and are engaged in direct perimeter control, primarily centered around private property and structure protection. The fire is in a full suppression and point protection strategy, utilizing a mix of tactics including direct and indirect attack. Firefighters are engaging the fire directly when the probability of success is high and commensurate with the values at risk. 

Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office is enforcing several evacuation notices for the areas of Panther Creek, Forney, Moyer, Cobalt, Blackbird, and Leesburg. Damage to any structures in these areas is still being assessed. If any structures are identified that have been damaged or destroyed, Lemhi county officials from either the Sheriff’s Office or the Emergency Management Services Office will notify property owners. 

Please stay out of the fire area. There is still active fire behavior in the fire area, including group torching and crowning. There are multiple roads and bridges that have been destroyed or are impassable. Entry into evacuation zones that are in “Go” status is prohibited. The updated forest closure notice that encompasses both the Red Rock Fire and Garden Fire areas includes multiple road and area closures. Barricade closures will be posted at road intersections and forest boundaries.  

WEATHER: 

High pressure over the area brought seasonable temperatures in the lower 60s, light west-southwest winds, and humidity in the 20% to 24% range on Sunday. Due to the large amount of smoke both from this fire and surrounding fires, the drainages were thick with smoke, shading the area and preventing the smoke from mixing out from the lowest lying areas. The inversion returned last night, capping in the smoke for another evening. High pressure remains over the area on Monday, with sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s along with humidity near 20%. The drainages will again be slower to warm than the surrounding highlands, so smoke will remain in valley bottoms until noon or later. Slightly more unstable air may allow more mixing out of the smoke Monday afternoon. Winds will be out of the southwest 7 mph with gusts to 17 mph. 

FIRE BEHAVIOR: 

Fire behavior continues to moderate with decent overnight humidity recoveries and lighter winds. Fuels are still available with heavy dead and down components and remain most problematic for firefighters. Areas where humidities fall below 25% with gusty afternoon winds can experience increased activity, including short-range spotting. Opportunities to attack the fire directly will likely be confined to morning hours and when effective water support is available.  Fire will continue to grow with wind and up slopes/drainages. 

SMOKE REPORT: No smoke report is being produced for the Red Rock Fire area at the time. For smoke information, please go to: https://fire.airnow.gov/ or https://airquality.deq.idaho.gov/home/map.  

FOREST CLOSURES: The forest closure order was updated and expanded October 5, 2024. For forest closure information please go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/scnf/alerts-notices 

EVACUATIONS:   

Go evacuation orders are currently in place for Zones 1 through 5. Ready evacuation notice in place for US-93 corridor from Williams Creek to Elk Bend (Zone 6). 

If the fire becomes established on the east side of the Ridge Road, Williams Lake and the west side of the Salmon River will advance to evacuation level Set. 

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

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: 169,074– Containment: 89% – Detection: 09/02/24 – Cause: Lightning – Personnel: 589 

Forest closures around the Rail Ridge and Crazy Creek Fires remain in place. A map with the ODFW hunting management unit areas overlaid with the closure area and fire footprint can be found at: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire. It is critical that members of the public abide by these closures because of potentially hazardous circumstances in the area including narrow and damaged roads, hazard trees, fire activity, unstable ground, and crews and equipment in the area.  

Operational Update 

Yesterday, the fire grew over 1,000 acres in the Black Canyon Wilderness due to dry conditions and afternoon winds. Firefighters performed firing operations along containment lines to strengthen the perimeter and keep the fire in check on the north and south sides of the active fire area. Crews continued their diligent work of patrolling the uncontained areas around the northern edge of the fire and mopping-up any heat found along the contained fire edge. Suppression repair around the fire also continued.  

Firefighters have been using small firing operations to stay ahead of fire growth in the Black Canyon Wilderness. Beginning today, firefighters will be looking for opportunities to use tactical firing operations to close the remaining five miles of open line along the northwest edge of the fire. Over the next several days, fire will be introduced as needed with careful consideration of weather conditions and fire behavior. With no fire-season ending weather forecasted in the next two weeks, this updated plan will shorten the duration of uncontained fire spread. There is expected to be an increase in smoke in Dayville, Mount Vernon, and possibly John Day. Around other areas of the fire, crews continue to focus on the important work of suppression repair including removing woody debris, grading roads, and repairing dozer lines so the area is left in good condition upon crews’ eventual departure.  

Weather 
High pressure and dry conditions will continue through much of this week. Overnight relative humidity recovery will only be in the 40 - 45% range and daytime minimum relative humidity values will be 17-22%. No significant wind is expected with just upslope/upvalley winds developing after the inversion breaks around 1000. Temperatures will remain above average on Monday and through much of this week with afternoon highs in the low to mid 70s. 

Evacuations  

Level 1 evacuations in Grant County were dropped this week and the level 2 evacuations remain. Wheeler County evacuation remain the same.   

For Current Evacuation Levels all affected 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 Fire. For more details and closure maps, visit https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire 

Middle Fork Complex Fire Update

October 7, 2024

Middle Fork Complex Fire Information: 208-992-3045 (8 a.m. - 8 p.m.)

Email: 2024.middleforkcomplex@firenet.gov

Middle Fork Complex: 61,493 acres, 90% completion, 152 Personnel 

Snag Fire: 33,437 acres, 90% completion, 12 Personnel 

Goat Fire: 31,831 acres, 27% completion, 195 personnel

Fire activity on the Goat Fire returned to mostly creeping and smoldering behavior. Engine crews patrolling the southern edge of the Goat Fire yesterday did encounter a few active spots and were able to deal with them before they grew bigger. On the northeast end of the Goat Fire, crews are continuing to reinforce contingency lines and address some of the areas of increased activity caused by the weather event last week.

On the southern edge of the Goat Fire, crews are conducting strategic firing operations today along the Silver Creek and the existing roads and trails in the area, reinforcing the fire lines there. Strategic firing occurs when fire managers want to intentionally reduce the amount of unburned fuel between their indirect fire line and the main fire. This will reduce the fuel load in a controlled manner and help prevent the uncontrolled spread of the fire ultimately creating more secure containment lines. Increased smoke may be visible in the area during these operations.

On the western edges of the Snag and the Middle Fork Complex Fires, crews have completed most of the suppression repair work. They are currently working to remove all the heavy equipment from the area.

There was no significant activity on the Snag Fire and very little activity on the Middle Fork Complex Fire yesterday. Firefighters will continue to patrol the areas today, watching for any increase in fire activity. Crews are also continuing their night shift monitoring and patrolling to watch for and immediately address any increase in fire activity.

Weather over the fires continues to be unseasonably warm and dry. The temperature today is expected to reach 70 and possibly 75 tomorrow. Humidity levels continue to be unseasonably low. Winds over the fire is forecast to be minimal and mostly terrain driven over the next couple days. No significant fire growth is expected at this time, but firefighters will remain vigilant and continue to work on suppression and containment efforts to be ready for potential dry frontal passage which could enter the area by the end of the week.

Smoky conditions in the mornings to early afternoons is expected as the temperature inversions continue. A temperature inversion is when warm air traps cooler air, causing smoke to linger in valley bottoms at night and in the early morning. The trapped smoke generally begins to lift after the sun rises and heats the earth’s surface.

Please check the Valley County Idaho Facebook page for any updates on evacuation readiness level changes. Residents are still encouraged to sign up for Code Red Emergency Alerts to stay informed. For any questions or updates on evacuation readiness, please contact the Valley County Dispatch Center at 208-382-5160. Currently, Warm Lake Road remains open for travel without restrictions.

Forest area and road closures remain in effect. Visit the Middle Fork Complex Fire Facebook page for a detailed description of where those closures are.

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