Acres: 96,469 Containment: 50% Personnel:
2,065
Resources assigned includes: 54 crews, 12 helicopters, 85 engines, 9
dozers, 36 water tenders, 7 masticators
BOISE, August 22, 2016 – The fire was very
active yesterday and spread northerly in the Deadwood River drainage,
generating a large smoke column visible throughout the
afternoon. Fire spread was through Steven’s Creek, a bowl-shaped
drainage flowing into the Deadwood River. There were no reports of
fire crossing to the east side of Clear Creek. Roads serving as
containment lines held, preventing fire spread further downslope in the Clear
Creek drainage. Firefighters conducted additional brush removal in
the Long Creek Summer home area, and conditions there remain damp and wet from
the continuous use of sprinklers.
Colorado
State University air quality researchers in search of smoky air began taking
real-time air particle measurements at the Danskin Boat Launch.
The
eastern portion of the fire continues to consume unburned islands of fuels,
which produces smoke that can be viewed along HWY 21/Lowman area. Highway 17 is open, but remains susceptible
to rocks, debris and trees that may fall onto the road from the burned
hillsides. Highway 21, leaving Idaho
City, is open as well; however, crews are using northwesterly winds to conduct
localized burnout operations to clean up unburned islands within the fire
perimeter.
The
fire where the fire is backing down Black Bear Creek drainage-a steep, rugged
area. Fire management strategies for the west side are concentrated on
confining the fire north of Forest Road 380 and east of Forest Road 397, and
protecting structures northeast of Pioneerville and Idaho Department of Land
areas.
Suppression
rehabilitation efforts continue in the southern portion of the fire and the
Idaho City Ranger District today briefed a Burned Area Emergency Response
(BAER) team. The BAER team will work
with the local units to prescribe and implement emergency treatments on Federal
lands. This minimizes threats to life
and property resulting from fire effects, and stabilizes and prevents
unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources.
Hot
and dry weather continues with an anticipated dry front arriving today. This will bring strong and gusty southwest
winds, possibly increasing fire behavior.
A
Level 2 evacuation order remains in effect for residents along the South Fork
Road, east of the Grimes Pass Road and along the South Fork Payette River. All properties in the Lowman area and
Pioneerville are under a Level 1 evacuation order. Homes along Forest Road 582
(Bear Valley Road) as well as the Long Creek summer homes area are in Level 2
evacuation status. Use caution traveling
Highway 17 and please do not stop along the road corridor in the burned area or
around helicopter dipping operations. Helicopters cannot dip from
spots where cars are parked too close.
DETAILS — The Pioneer Fire Area Closure can be found at fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices and information at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4866. Information is also available
at facebook.com/Pioneer-Fire-682201165260518 or email questions to pioneerfire2016@gmail.com.
