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Middle Fork Complex Fire: Bulldog, Nellie, Anderson

Unit Information

1249 S. Vinnell Way 
Boise, 
Idaho 
83709 
1249 S. Vinnell Way 
Boise, 
Idaho 
83709 

Incident Contacts

Email: 2024.middleforkcomplex@firenet.gov
Phone: (208) 992 3045
Hours: 8 AM - 8 PM

Highlighted Activity

Fire Size: 56,806 Acres Completion:14%Resources: 919Weather and Fire Behavior: There is a 20 - 30% chance of showers in the morning, with unstable conditions throughout the afternoon. A front will pass through around 6:00 p.m., causing winds to switch to the northwest. Temperatures will be cooler with increasing humidity. Fire behavior is expected to remain moderated… Read more
Publication Type: News -
Please join Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 3 for updates on the Middle Fork Complex Fire, and meet the incoming Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 5. We will be holding the meeting at 6:00 PM at the White Barn: 85 Severence road Garden Valley, Idaho. 
Publication Type: News -

Highlighted Media

Lightning Creek Trail with smoke from strategic firing operation

On August 5, 2024, a storm with lightning moved through the area with a series of ground strikes, igniting the Middle Fork Complex (consisting of the Bulldog Fire, Nellie Fire, and Anderson Fire). The Anderson Fire was the first fire reported on August 5, 2024 at 4:16 PM, followed by the Bulldog Fire at 5:03 PM, and the Nellie Fire on August 6 at 8:29 PM. 

On August 12, the Nellie and Anderson fires merged and began being managed as one fire, retaining the name Nellie. The fires are burning in steep, rugged terrain, making access difficult in some areas. Ensuring firefighter safety and protecting life and property are of the utmost importance.

The Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 3 assumed command of the Middle Fork Complex under Incident Commander Brett Waters on Friday, August 23. The team is working in cooperation with local fire managers, interagency partners, and community officials to utilize resources to protect prioritized values.

Moving forward, the Nellie and Bulldog fires are now referred to as the Middle Fork Complex.

The Bulltrout and Wapiti fires are being managed separately by Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 as of Saturday, August 24, 2024. 

Basic Information
Current as of Tue, 09/03/2024 - 12:09
Incident Time Zone America/Denver
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin
Location 9 miles east of Garden Valley, ID
Incident Commander Brett Waters
Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 3
Coordinates 44° 10' 18'' Latitude
-115° 47'
50
'' Longitude
Current Situation
Total Personnel: 934
Size 56,806 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 14%
Estimated Containment Date 10/20/2024
Fuels Involved

Predominant fuels burning timber understory (TU5), and moderate load, dry climate shrub (SH2), timber litter (TL8) with inter-mixed conifer stands, heavy dead fuels completely consuming. 1000 hr fuel moisture around 10%. ERC values at or above 90%. Sub-Alpine fir present at higher elevations with lichen and moss. Live fuels beginning to contribute to spread.

Significant Events

Widespread active fire behavior due to low fuel moistures, high ERCs, and increased atmospheric instability. Terrain-driven winds became erratic due to convective air movement from nearby thunderstorms. Primary fire behavior parameters increase substantially over previous burn periods. All elevations experienced active fire behavior with group torching and moderate rates of spread in surface fuels with frequent spot fires.

 

 

Outlook
Planned Actions

Division D: Crews are constructing indirect line on the ridge above Silver Creek Plunge and preparing around structures to create defensible space for holding operations. Strategic firing operations will be conducted based upon fire behavior. Additional crews are being loaned from neighboring divisions to help with implementing protection plans for Boiling Springs and Silver Creek Lookout in anticipation of Goat Fire movement south.  A Structure Wrap Group is on order for historic Forest Service infrastructure in Division D.

Division T: Continue line construction through the Lightning Fire scar towards Division R/S. Scout for opportunities to reduce fire movement to the South and West. Coordinate with Division R/S for ingress/egress and fire line placement. Additional crews on loan from neighboring Divisions to assist in completion of indirect line to connect Bulldog and Nellie fires through Lightning Creek.

Division R/S: Utilize a mix of mechanical and crew-built line for more direct suppression tactics. Implement firing operations utilizing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to clean interior pockets from previous shifts burns. Continue to hold and mop-up dozer line from Anderson Creek to Highway 17.

Division Q/P: Assist with holding and mopping up dozer line along Highway 17 to Anderson Creek. Anticipate any need for firing on the southeast corner of the fire to prevent fire from impacting Highway 17 and progressing towards Lowman.

Division O: Fire activity picked up during the previous shift but is making little progress through the Pioneer burn scar.

Division N: Type 1 and Type 2IA crews will implement direct suppression tactics to prevent further fire spread on east and west sides of Deadwood Reservoir. Crews will construct direct line to the east using the 591 road to tie into the 2016 Pioneer burn scar. West of the reservoir, construct direct line keeping fire on the peninsulas that extend into the reservoir. Dozer line will be constructed on the western side of the fire, south of Deadwood Reservoir, to help secure the fire edge into the Rattlesnake burn scar.
Resources in Division N have been identified to assist the forest in IA response during the predicted weather event and thunderstorms.

Structure Group/IA: Structure group will continue to assess and mitigation around structures. They will also be available to assist the forest in IA Response.

Projected Incident Activity

24 hours:

High ERCs and low fuel moistures will support moderate fire behavior. Terrain-driven winds increase with afternoon heating. Active surface fire, with frequent group torching and spotting continues. Instability, and moderate potential for thunderstorms near or over the fire may increase fire behavior and spread potential.

48 hours:

Moderating temperatures, relative humidity, and ERCs, along with a diminishing threat of convective activity, will continue to support moderate fire behavior. Torching and short duration surface fire possible later in the burn period.

Current Weather
Weather Concerns

35. Weather Concerns (synopsis of current and predicted weather; discuss related factors that may cause concern):The fire area remains under a red flag warning until September 3, 12:00am.

On Monday, scattered light showers passed through the fire area in the morning, producing little rainfall. This was not enough to break the inversion layer, which lasted through 1600. Relative humidity bottomed out in the morning around 15-25%, then increased through the day to 25-35% as moisture streamed northward into the area. Winds were strong in the morning from the southwest 5-12 mph with gusts to 19 mph, then decreased in the afternoon. Stronger thunderstorms will redevelop in the evening. Afternoon heating will enhance the threat of gusty and erratic outflow winds up to 60 mph from any storms that develop.

Overnight, temperatures in the valleys will be in the mid-40s with relative humidity increasing to 70-80%. Lows on the mid-slopes and ridges will be in the mid-50s with improving overnight humidity recoveries. Winds will be light and terrain driven. Scattered showers and storms will persist through the morning hours on Tuesday with strong outflow winds, lightning and locally heavy rains. High temperatures will decrease, humidity will be elevated and winds will remain  breezy from the west-northwest to northwest.

By midweek, temperatures rebound as a ridge builds back into the area. Humidity will decrease and winds will return to light and terrain driven. The inversion will once again strengthen over the area.