BOISE, Idaho – No new fires were reported today in the Boise NF.
The dry and warm weather is slated to extend through Wednesday, with strengthening southwesterly winds aloft and increasing moisture. Warm Lake Highway 22 is open but continues to have low visibility at times due to smoke that is both local and from the two fires north of Cascade. The area closure, west of Warm Lake, remains in effect. The highway could be closed at any time by the Valley County Sheriff if fire activity increases or if there are other complications.
Cougar Fire (914 acres; 48% contained, 359 personnel) - The fire’s 81-acre growth yesterday was almost entirely due to the burning of ground fuels as the team continues to make headway toward its operational objectives. Today’s plans were to clear the landscape of potential fuels up to the Warm Lake Highway. The Type 3 incident management team began its transition before dawn today, and are scheduled to take over the fire suppression operations at 6 AM tomorrow.
The fire is about 20 miles northeast of Cascade. Specific information on road conditions and Forest closure is available at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place for the Boise National Forest. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire is prohibited except within an agency-designated recreation site and only within an agency provided structure. Further information is available at: Boise National Forest web site, orhttp://idahofireinfo.blogspot.
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s state-wide burn ban remains in effect. They are requesting that the public curtail campfires and all burning outside of fire suppression activities.