Dixie-Jumbo Fires (ID)

Timber (Litter and Understory)

Timber (Grass and Understory)

Fire is burning in mixed conifer and lodgepole stands with 40-60% standing dead in some stands. Old fire scars with heavy down fuels are slowing the fire but are not a barrier to fire spread. At the upper elevations spruce and subalpine fir pockets allow spread through torching and spotting. Lower elevation

areas consist of ponderosa pine and dry Douglas fir with grass understory. In steep terrain rolling burning material aids in fire spread and created hazardous conditions.

Active

Group Torching

Uphill Runs

Short-range Spotting

Fuels are unseasonably dry and this continues to support fire spread in continuous fuels. Terrain an fuel-driven runs occurring in heavy mixed conifer stands.

The Dixie Fire increased 500 acres yesterday, for a total of 41,019 acres.

The fire is flanking along the Salmon River to the west and is in the Tepee Creek area, however, has not crossed it. Fire professionals continue to ramp up efforts in Comstock and Dixie in anticipation of the winds shifting to the east and the fire aligning with topography and moving north/west towards the communities.

Last night, helicopter resources conducted bucket drops on active fire in the Blowout Mountain area.

There has been limited fire movement to the east as it remains in the Mallard Creek area. Suppression objectives for sections of the fire between Mallard Creek and the Dixie and Comstock area are 30 percent complete.

To the north, containment lines are holding along Forest Road 1190/Jack Mountain Road and Forest Road 421 in the Mallard Creek area. Fire professionals are continuing to improve these lines and are monitoring the atmospheric conditions today that may increase fire behavior on the north end.

A significant shift in weather is anticipated today and tomorrow prior to potential precipitation Sunday and Monday. The biggest concern is the east winds and the potential for increased fire movement to the west.

The Dixie Fire is being co-managed with the Jumbo Fire to the west.

The Jumbo saw an increase of 351 acres yesterday, for a total of 2,750 acres. The fire sits at zero percent containment. The fire burning well within the wilderness and is moving to the south towards the Salmon River.

The fire continues to be evaluated for further actions from the air and fire professionals on the ground.

Smoke concentrations may likely dissipate this afternoon with expected wind instability (better mixing) aloft which could help clear out particulate matter. Rain with isolated thunderstorms is forecasted sometime Saturday, Sunday, & Monday.

Weekend storm forecasts may likely decrease active fire behavior until it dries out and warms up mid-week next week.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has an Air Pollution Forecast and Caution to notify residents of Clearwater and Idaho Counties off the Nez Perce Reservation of degraded air quality. Alert could expire at 1 pm PST today. For more information on smoke conditions visit https://fire.airnow.gov/.