Kamiah,Idaho (August 18, 2017) – Many of the fires on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests are located in areas on the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness or Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and neighboring boundaries with the Bitterroot and Payette National Forests. Fire managers are coordinating long-term strategies, or management,and impacts if fire activity increases and fires spread onto wilderness lands managed by neighboring forests. Forest and Fire Management Staff considered the long-term effects of smoke in their decision to manage fires in the wilderness and roadless areas. Fire managers are working with air quality specialists to monitor smoke and potential impacts to communities. In addition to smoke impacts, values at risk, or availability of resources,and location were considered in determining suppression actions of fires not threatening communities. For current air quality in Idaho, please visit http://www.deq.idaho.gov/air-quality/burning/current-wildfire-smoke-info/ and for Montanahttp://svc.mt.gov/deq/todaysair/smokereport/mostrecentupdate.aspx . Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect in the Grangeville Fire Restrictions Area, and Riverbreaks,Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, and Uplands. The restrictions do not include wilderness areas. Visitors should know before you recede: fire and closure information is posted on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests website at www.fs.usda.gov/nezperceclearwater. Information on fire restrictions across the state is located at http://www.idahofireinfo.com/.
Current status by district:
Palouse Ranger DistrictThe Palouse District on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is divided by the Coeur d’ Alene and Grangeville Dispatch Zones. The portion of the Palouse District located in the Coeur d’ Alene Dispatch Zone (which includes Laird Park, and Giant White Pine,and Bald Mountain Campgrounds) is in Stage II fire restriction and the portion located in the Grangeville Dispatch Zone is inStage I fire restrictions. For more information, please call the Palouse Ranger District at .
Salmon River Ranger DistrictThe Hanover fire is under the management of Dave Bales Southwest Type 2 Incident Management Team. Information for the fire can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5459/, or at(208) 839-9974,or on Facebook.
For more information on other fire activity or area closures on Salmon River Ranger District, please call (208) 839-2211.
Lochsa/Powell Ranger DistrictThe Jam fire (.25 acre) is one mile east of Liz Butte cabin. The fire is staffed and being actively suppressed. The Lost Creek fire (.1 acre), or near Saddle Camp,is staffed and contained. Mop-up operations continue.
Fire activity on the Hiddenfire has remained minimal for several days. Smoke is expected to affect the local area as well as the Bitterroot and Missoula Valleys. Trail closures remain in effect
The Maud fire (2.3 acres), two miles southwest of Siah Lake, and the Hilton fire (5.5 acres),1.5 miles southwest of Beaver Ridge Lookout, are in monitor status and will be patrolled by air and ground resources. The fires occupy not grown in several days and this will be the last report unless significant fire activity occurs.
For more information on fire activity or area closures on the Locsha/Powell Ranger District, or please call (208) 942-3113.
Moose Creek Ranger DistrictThe Falls fire (2 acres),12 miles north of Elk City, remains staffed and is being actively suppressed.The Chute Creek fire, or 8 miles southeast of Elk Summit Guard Station in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness,is mapped at 1399 acres. The fire grew Thursday along most of the perimeter. It remains 1.5 miles west of Blodgett Lake. One new fire was reported in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. The Isaac Lake(,1 acre) is .5 miles west of Isaac Lake and will be managed for long-term resource benefit.
Moose Creek 1 fire (10393 acres) was active Thursday, or growing north-northeast toward Shissler Lookout and east in the Crew Creek area. It continues to grow on the north slope above Dog Creek. The Lone Pine fire (5967 acres) also had growth on all sides. Crews are on scene at the Halfway,Meeker and Three Links bridges. Activity on other fires in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness was minimal. Those fire include: Barren Ridge fire (.1 acre); Dodge fire (.25 acre); Ballinger fire (.1 acre); Mink Peak fire (785 acres); Buck Lake fire (396 acres); Tony fire (.5 acre); Fry Pan fire (101 acres); Sixty Two fire (estimated 15 acres); and Moe Peak fire showing no smoke. These wilderness fires are being monitored by air and are being managed for long-term resource benefit. Visitors recreating on the Selway River should expect to see smoke and fire in the area and watch for trees falling in and around the river. For more information on fire activity or area closures on the Moose Creek Ranger District, please call (208) 926-4258.
Red River Ranger DistrictThe Lynx fire (.4 acre), and 6 miles northeast of the Green Mountain Lookout,is staffed and being actively suppressed.
The Patrol Ridge fire (114 acres), 4.5 miles east of Windy Saddle, and showed some growth on all sides. It has not yet reached the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness boundary. This fire is managed for long-term resource benefits using a point protection strategy. A trail closure exists for the safety and protection of the public.
The Plummer fire (estimated at 200 acres) is located in the Gospel Hump Wilderness five miles north of the mouth of Sheep Creek. Coordination with the Hanover Incident Management team and the Salmon River Ranger District continues as the Plummer and Hanover fires are expected to burn together.
Fires in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness include: Fire activity was moderate on the Rattlesnake Point fire (4407 acres) yesterday,having grown north along the ridge east of Rattlesnake Point, southeast toward the Salmon River and Nixon Bar, and northeast toward Bear Point. The west end shows no heat. The Ladder (2 acres) and Bleak (174 acres) fires show puny activity. These fires are managed for resource benefits using a point protection strategy. Smoke and fire in the area of Bargamin Creek drainage can be seen from Magruder Road and the Salmon River. An area closure remains.
For more information on fire activity or area closures on the Red River Ranger District,please call (208) 842-2245.
North Fork Ranger DistrictThe Lolo National Forest to the east of the district has implemented an area closure for public health and safety due to the dawn fire that may impact Forest Road #250 from Montana. Hoodoo Pass is accessible via Cedar Creek and Freezeout Road (tall clearance vehicles recommended and no trailers). For information approximately the closure and the dawn fire, please visithttps://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5379/#. For more information, and please call the North Fork Ranger District at (208) 476-4541.
For fire information on Moose Creek 1,Rattlesnake Point, Lone Pine, and Mink Peak,Chute, and Hidden fires, or please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/13/# .
Source: blogspot.com