Single Publication

The Central Idaho Dispatch Zone is at VERY HIGH Fire Danger

On InciWeb @ https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8249/

Date of Detection: July 17, 2022

Current Size (estimated):  12,283 acres

Containment: 0%

Location: 5 miles southwest of North Fork; North Fork Ranger District

Cause: undetermined

Fuels: Grass/Brush/Timber (dead/down fuels)

Resources on Fire: 190

Type I Crew: 4

Type II Crew: 3

Engines: 7

Type I Helicopters: 1

Type II Helicopters: 1

Type 3 Helicopters: 1

A Type III Incident Commander is currently managing the fire.  Fire is burning on both sides of the Salmon River and the Salmon River Road (#030).  Extreme fire behavior was observed yesterday, with uphill runs, short crown runs, and long range spotting with similar behavior expected today.  

Fire managers continued to be concerned about potential fire movement.  The potential remains for the fire to reach the Highway 93 corridor.  Private landowners and forest users need to be aware of this potential fire activity.  Please avoid this area.  

A Type I Incident Management Team has been ordered and will in-brief with Forest Officials today.  Yesterday, crews assessed values at risk in the vicinity of the fire and implemented point protection for those values as necessary.  Aircraft was used as weather permitted, the high winds limited the use of aircraft.  There was a spot fire east of Highway 93 yesterday afternoon, crews were able to quickly contain the spot fire to an area approximately 50’ X 50’.  Crews conducted a burnout late yesterday behind the North Fork Ranger Station to help slow fire growth to the east.   Today, crews will continue assessing values at risk and implementing point protection as necessary with aircraft being used as weather permits.   

There is wildfire activity on both sides of the Salmon River Road (NFSR #030) between Highway 93 at North Fork and Indianola Guard Station that is affecting access from the Middle Fork of the Salmon River take-out (Cache Bar Boat Ramp) and Main Salmon River launch site (Corn Creek Boat Ramp) to Hwy 93.  At this time, a pilot car is escorting vehicles through this area on the Salmon River Road in the morning hours and when fire behavior allows. I t is unlikely that the pilot car option will be available in the afternoons.  For current updates, call 208-756-5587.  Questions on river launches can be answered by emailing middlefork@fs.fed.us.  

WEATHER:  Very dry conditions are expected today for the entire area with humidity values in the valley bottoms dropping into the 5 to 10 percent range. After relatively light winds early in the morning, breezy conditions will take over midday through the evening. Winds will be lighter than Monday, but sustained west winds around 10 to 15 mph can be expected with gusts around 20-25 mph in the afternoon.  Humidity values will slightly improve Wednesday and Thursday, but similarly breezy conditions will remain. 

EVACUATIONS:  The latest updates from the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office can be found at https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/site-home/urgent-alerts/latest-updates-moose-creek-fire. 

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:  The Salmon‐Challis National Forest has implemented the Moose Fire Emergency Area, Road, and Trail Closure, Order Number: 04‐13‐22‐502.  Details and a map for this closure can be found at https://bit.ly/3yQLW2m.   

When the pilot car is not available, use the following directions. 

Access from Cache Bar Boat Ramp to Hwy 93, five miles south of Salmon:

From Cache Bar, head east on Salmon River Road (NFSR #030) for approximately 14 miles.

Turn right on Panther Creek Road (NFSR #055).

Continue on Panther Creek Road for approximately 20 miles.

Turn left onto Deep Creek Road (NFSR #101).

Continue on Deep Creek Road for approximately 11 miles (up switchbacks).

At intersection with NFSR #021, turn right towards Williams Creek Summit.

Continue approximately 3 miles to Williams Creek Summit.

Drive over the summit and stay on NFSR #021 (Williams Creek Road) for approximately 13 miles downhill to Hwy 93. 

Access to Corn Creek Boat Ramp from Salmon:

From the intersection of Hwy 93 and Main Street in Salmon, drive south on Hwy 93 for approximately 5 miles to the intersection with Williams Creek Road.

Turn right (head West) on Williams Creek Road (NFSR #021) for approximately 13 miles to Williams Creek Summit.

Stay on NFSR #021, drive over Williams Creek Summit, and continue for approximately 3 miles.

                Turn left onto Deep Creek Road (NFSR #101).

                Continue on Deep Creek Road for approximately 11 miles (down switchbacks) to Panther Creek Road (NFSR #055).

At intersection, turn right on Panther Creek Road (NFSR #055).

                Continue on Panther Creek Road for approximately 20 miles to Salmon River Road (NFSR #030).

                Turn left onto Salmon River Road and continue to Corn Creek Boat Ramp. 

Please use caution as there is heavy mine traffic on these routes in addition to the increased recreational traffic.  Please SLOW DOWN, the alternate routes are narrow, windy, dirt mountain roads.  Please help reduce dust and reduces visibility.  

Risk to responders and public safety are the top priorities for the Moose Fire.  Fire managers appreciate your cooperation.  If you are recreating near an ongoing wildfire suppression operation, please keep your distance - do not congregate in the area and allow the firefighters to do their job safely and efficiently.  

Forest officials are asking the public to be extremely careful when recreating on the Forest and to remember that it’s your job and responsibility to properly maintain and extinguish all campfires.  Due to current weather and fuel conditions it’s especially imperative for the public to be judicious with campfires.  We can all make a difference in reducing human-caused fires during this season.  Remember, One Less Spark Means One Less Wildfire.  

Nationally, there are 24 uncontained large fires being managed under a full suppression strategy and 97 large fires managed under a strategy other than full suppression. 

 Visit our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/scnf/, ‘Like Us’ on Facebook @salmonchallisnf, and ‘Follow Us’ on Twitter @salmonchallisnf. 

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