FIRE WATCH: Latest information on area wildfires
LATEST INFORMATION
The information below comes from fire managers daily updates.
RED ROCK FIRE - BLACK EAGLE FIRE - NAPIAS FIRE
(UPDATED 10/14/2024)
Fire Size: 73,643 acres
Containment: 19%
Personnel: 564
Sunday crews made progress building handline south of the cobalt mine and removed vegetation along Blackbird Road (FR 115) and Deep Creek Road (FR 101) to be used as alternate containment line if needed. Unmanned aircraft assisted with interior ignitions to clean up pockets of unburned fuel and crews did ignitions off the Yellowjacket Road (FR 112) to keep the fire from progressing any further south. Dozers constructed line from Ridge Road (FR 020) to Moyer Peak with plans to continue until it connects to FR 103 in Moyer Creek. Containment line was connected around the entire spot fire near Napias Creek.
Monday, preparing Blackbird Road and Deep Cr Road will continue with crews removing vegetation along the road. Dozer line construction will also continue on Moyer Peak. Along the Ridge Road (FR 020), crews are ready to start ignitions if needed to prevent fire spread to the east but will assess the need throughout the day. On the spot fire near Napias Creek, crews will remove snags and continue to secure the containment line.
GARDEN FIRE
(Reported 10/14/2024)
Size: 9,533 acres
Containment: 0%
Personnel: 177
Resources: 14 Engines, 1 Type I Helicopter, 2 Type I Crew, 4 Type II Crews
Sunday fire behavior was minimal. Crews continued to patrol and mop up the perimeter in Panther Creek and the Salmon River corridor. Crews are methodically checking for heat sources. Monday, monitoring these areas will continue and any hot spots identified will be extinguished.
Evacuations: Lemhi County Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and the Salmon-Challis National Forest have established three (3) 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 3: Panther Creek to Spring Creek to include private land up Spring Creek
- ZONE 1 is in “GO” status
- ZONE 2 is in “GO” status
- ZONE 3 IS IN "SET" STATUS
Information on evacuation status can be found on Lemhi County’s website, https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/, under ‘News and Notices.’
PACK TRAIL FIRE
(Reported 10/14/2024)
Pack Trail Fire
Size: 77,559 acres
Containment: 62%
Personnel: 639
Evacuations – Teton Country Emergency Management has announced that the Upper Gros Ventre area, east of Goosewing Ranch, will be placed under a Level 3 “GO” evacuation order at noon today.
Brooks Lake Lodge, Pinnacle Cabins, Falls Camp, and Long Creek have been reduced to a Level 2 “Set” Evacuation Warning. Level 3 “Go” evacuation orders remain in effect for Lava Mountain Lodge and McKenzie Highland Ranch. The Dunoir Road Corridor has been reduced to a Level 1 “Ready” Evacuation Warning. 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.
Operations – Today, warm, dry, and unstable conditions are expected to lead to increased fire activity. Yesterday, on the east side of the fire, ground crews conducted a firing operation west of Lava Mountain Lodge, taking advantage of favorable winds along 540 Road. On the north side, the Pack Trail Fire continued to move into areas around Cowboy Camp, Strawberry Warming Hut, and Fish Creek Guard Station. Fire behavior was spotted near the guard station, and firefighters used aircraft to suppress persistent activity while mopping up hotspots, patrolling, and refilling tanks for sprinkler systems set up for point protection. The fire remains confined north of Union Pass Road. On the west flank, firefighters are patrolling the Burnt Ridge area, using aircraft as the fire slowly creeps downhill. Structure protection crews continued wrapping buildings, laying hoses, and setting up sprinklers around any and all structures in the Gros Ventre valley. Overnight, on the south side, active fire behavior was observed near Buffalo Meadow, while on the west side, the fire showed moderate activity as it continued to creep downhill. Crews remain focused on patrolling for new smoke and fire growth.
COMMISSARY FIRE:
(Reported 10/9/2024)
Size: 6,700
Location: Fourteen miles south of Swan Valley, Idaho on Commissary Ridge
Fire resources – 1 Helicopter, 2 engines, 3 crews, and miscellaneous overhead
Fire managers continue to actively engage on the Commissary Fire, which is burning within the Fall Creek Prescribed fire project area on the Palisades Ranger District. Starting today, efforts will be concentrated along Skyline Ridge Road to keep the fire within its designated boundaries. Please be mindful of increased fire traffic and drive slowly in the area.
The Commissary fire is burning at a low intensity resulting in several benefits including improving forest health, minimizing the spread of insects and disease, removing and reducing invasive species that threaten native species in an ecosystem, improving habitat for numerous species, recycling nutrients back into the soil and promoting the growth of aspen in the area.
While there are no current trail or area closures in place, forest visitors are encouraged to stay informed and exercise caution if recreating and hunting in the vicinity of the Commissary Fire area. Continue to be aware of fire spread, rolling debris, falling snags or trees, and periods of heavy smoke. Additionally, there will be an increase in traffic along the Skyline Ridge Road. Please slow down and use caution when driving.
To see the latest on other fires, visit inciweb.wildfires.gov
