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 Forests’ highest priority remains public and firefighter safety.
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)
The Slaughter Fire, burning west
of Concord in the Gospel-Hump Wilderness, is estimated to be 100-150
acres. Firefighters are in the corridor
assessing structure protection needs.
The 2007 Rattlesnake Fire scar is positioned between the fire and most
structures and should slow the fire’s spread.
The 1500-acre Rattlesnake Fire in
the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness continues to show minimal
activity, “creeping” up and down the Salmon River and toward the Sheep Hill
Lookout to the north. Firefighters
continue to monitor the fire from the Salmon River and provide structure
protection between Whitewater Ranch and Allison Ranch.
Most fires burning in the South
Zone including the Baldy, Wash, Crown, Lone Park, Noble, and Little Green
Fires, 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 vicinities 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 15,000 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 and are burning less actively. 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: 19,295 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
1525 acres, Army Mule Fire 5400 acres, Barren 1205 acres, Wahoo 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). Smokejumpers completed burnout operations
around 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.
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.
