Single Publication

Incident Commander: Rick Connell, Northern Rockies Team 5
Middle Fork Complex Location: 9 miles east of Garden Valley, ID
Bulltrout Location: 15 miles WNW OF Stanley, ID Wapiti Location: 2 miles southwest of Grandjean, ID

Start Dates: 07/24/24 – 08/06/2024
Cause: Lightning

Size:  Bulltrout: 271 acres Wapiti: 3,646 acres 

Middle Fork Complex: Bulldog: 2,713 acres Nellie: 5,595 acres

Containment: Middle Fork Complex: 0% Wapiti: 0% Bulltrout: 92%

Resources on site:
Middle Fork Complex: 3 hotshot crews; 6 type 2 hand crews; 11 engines; 2 bulldozers; 4 water tenders; 1 skidgen
Wapiti: 1 type 2 hand crew; 8 engines; 1 water tender
Bulltrout: 1 engine

Total Personnel: Middle Fork Complex: 413 Wapiti: 61 Bulltrout: 20

KEY MESSAGE:
On August 12, 2024, the Boise National Forest adjusted the fire closure areas. All roads and trails remain closed within these closures, to provide for public and firefighter safety. Please reference specific closures on the Forest’s website and the fire’s InciWeb page.

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS:
Middle Fork Complex: The Middle Fork Complex is comprised of the Bulldog and Nellie fires.
On the Bulldog Fire, firefighters continue holding and building containment along the southern edge of the fire. Crews are also making progress along the west side of the fire building handline and removing vegetation alongside FS road 698 and to the junction of FS road 698 and FS road 671. Yesterday, helicopters supported the efforts of the crews on the ground by dropping buckets of water to cool the edge of the fire on the southeast side along the Lightning Creek trail. The fire continues to burn to the north and east towards the Rattlesnake (2006) burn area. The public is reminded that the Middlefork Road is closed at the Forest Service boundary just north of Lightning Creek for firefighter and public safety as crews continue to work to protect private property and structures in the vicinity of Crouch.
The Nellie fire is burning in steep terrain with limited access. The fire is burning into the Pioneer Fire (2016) burn area to the east. Firefighters will be doing point protection and will complete wrapping the Deadwood Lookout with fire resistant material to protect the structure from radiant heat and burning embers. The public is reminded that Forest Service Road #555 is closed at the intersection of Highway 17 all the way to the Forest Service Road #579 intersection.

Wapiti Fire: The Wapiti fire continues to slowly burn down the north and northeast side. The fire has reached the South Fork of the Payette River to the northeast providing firefighters with a safe location to implement suppression tactics. The west side of the fire is holding on top of the ridge in rocky barren terrain. Today, the firefighters will continue to ensure their fire edge is secure and patrol the fire line. They will also resume structure protection and any improvements to their water pumping systems for the homes in the area.

Bulltrout Fire: There has been very little change to the Bulltrout fire and containment remains at 92%. Today, firefighters will use an unmanned aerial system (UAS) to search for remaining heat within the fire perimeter and continue to patrol the fireline.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
A passing storm system will come through our region today bringing scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. There will be a break in storm activity midday and the inversion will lift creating convection which may increase fire activity. In the evening, we are expected to see outflow winds with gust up to 40mph. Cloud cover and cool wet conditions aid firefighters in suppression tactics.

CLOSURES, RESTRICTIONS, AND EVACUATIONS:
Middle Fork Complex: The Boise County Sheriff's Office continues to maintain the Level 2 evacuation notice for residents on and near the Middlefork Road between Stump Ranch Road up to Tie Creek Campground. The Boise National Forest issued an area closure for the fire (Closure #0402-06-59) effective August 12, 2024. The purpose of this order is to protect public safety during the fires.

Wapiti Fire: The evacuation order for Summer Homes and the Sawtooth Lodge remain in effect for the Wapiti Fire, as does the area closure issued by the Sawtooth and Boise National Forests (Closure #0402-05-94) effective August 12, 2024. This Order is for public and firefighter safety during fire suppression efforts of the Wapiti Fire.

Bulltrout Fire: The Bull Trout Fire Area Closure (Closure #0402-05-93) remains in effect for the roads and trails within the perimeter of the fire. Boise National Forest issued this order on August,12, 2024. It will be rescinded as soon as it is safe to do so.

Closure information and maps are posted on the Forests’ website and the fire’s Inciweb page as they are in place. https://tinyurl.com/2u8v3pf7

The Boise National Forest, Idaho Department of Lands, and Bureau of Land Management are in Stage 1 fire restrictions on state, endowment, private and federal lands within the West Central Mountains Fire Restrictions Zone. For more information on the restrictions and a map visit:
https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/