Kamiah, Idaho, September 1,
2015 -
Showers cleared the skies above
most fires Sunday, allowing fire managers to get a better look at fires burning
throughout the Forests. Today’s forecast
is for warmer and drier conditions. A
dry cold front is predicted to move through the area tomorrow, bringing cooler
and breezier conditions Wednesday.
An area closure remains in effect
for lands managed by the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, with the
exception of the Palouse Ranger District.
Forest managers are evaluating current and projected fire behavior along
with weather predictions on a daily basis to determine which areas can be safely
re-opened for public access.
The following is a summary of the
major complexes and fires burning across the Nez Perce-Clearwater National
Forests which are not assigned to incident management teams.
South Zone (Salmon River and Red River Ranger Districts)
Most fires burning in the South
Zone are being managed by a Southern Area National Incident Management Team. Information about the Selway Complex and large
fires in the Elk City and Red River vicinity is posted on www.inciweb.org. Information can also be obtained by calling
877-367-9503 or sending an email to selwaycomplex@gmail.com.
The Tepee Springs Fire crossed the Salmon River Saturday and has spread
across an estimated 12,000 acres of land managed by the Nez Perce-Clearwater
National Forests. Updates regarding this
fire are posted on www.inciweb.org. Information can be obtained by calling
877-683-5560 or sending an email to payettefireinformation@gmail.com.
Central Zone (Lochsa-Powell and Moose Creek Ranger Districts)
Name: Lochsa South Complex
Location: South of Lochsa River from Warm Springs Creek
to the Selway River
Started: August 15, 2015 Cause: Lightning
Total Acreage: 5535 acres Containment: 0% Contained
Fires Originally within Lochsa South Complex: 12
Active Fires within the Complex:
Sponge Fire 3000 acres, Grit Fire 400 acres, Lone Knob Fire 400 acres,
Fire Creek 400 acres, Airstrip Fire 980 acres.
Major Events: Fires received
light, spotty precipitation Sunday. Structure
protection continues for Wilderness Gateway Campground and outfitter area, the
Fish Lake Airstrip and Cabin, and Gold Meadows Cabin.
Name: Wilderness Complex
Location: Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness (much of the
Moose Creek Ranger District)
Started: August 4, 2015 Cause: Lightning
Total Acreage: 18,115 acres
Fires Originally within the Wilderness Complex: 8
Active Fires within the Complex:
Roll Creek 7800 acres, Rock Point 250 acres, Meeker 2400 acres, Baily
1500 acres, Army Mule Fire 5400 acres, Wahoo 650 acres, Wahoo Fire 650 acres.
Major Events: These fires
are burning within the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and are being monitored as
they play their natural role in shaping the Wilderness landscape. Actions are being taken to protect
infrastructure within the Wilderness (pack bridges, lookouts and cabins). Burnout operations have been conducted to
protect the East Moose Pack Bridge.
Materials have been secured to wrap the Meadow Creek Cabin.
North Zone (Palouse and North Fork Ranger Districts)
Name: Larkin Complex Location: Roughly 30 airline
miles NE of Pierce
Started: August 17, 2015 Cause: Lightning
Total Acreage: 7330 acres Containment: 0% Contained
Fires Originally within the Complex (including Wolf Pack
Fires): 14
Active Fires within the Complex:
Snow Creek Fire 3270 acres, Wolf Pack Fire 1370 acres, and Heather Fire
2085 acres, Minnesaka 450, and Roaring 100.
Major Events: Fire managers
were able to fly over fires yesterday for more accurate mapping and revised
acreage figures. Minimal fire activity
was reported.
Name: Scurvy Mountain Fire Location: 28 miles ENE of Pierce, Idaho
Started: August 21, 2015 Cause: Lightning
Total Acreage: 520 acres Containment: 0% contained
Major Events: Fire managers
were able to fly over fires yesterday for more accurate mapping and revised
acreage figures. Minimal fire activity
was reported. The Scurvy Lookout has
been wrapped.
Three North Fork fires have been
contained (Rock, Pot Lake and Little Wash).
Work continues to contain a new fire, Siwash, which is located near Elk
Mountain.
Nez Perce-Clearwater closure and
fire information is posted at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/nezperceclearwater/home. Click on the “Fire Information” icon at the
top of the page.
