Single Publication

September 2, 2024

Fire Information Phone Line: 208-462-0345 (8 a.m. - 8 p.m.)                                  Email: 2024.Boulder.id@firenet.gov

QUICK FACTS

Fire            Location                               Size                 Containment       Assigned Personnel              Inciweb link

Boulder       9 miles SW of Cascade       2,421 acres              57%                      327                         https://tinyurl.com/ycdfv3tv

Snag           11 miles E of Cascade         30,324 acres            3%                       425                         https://tinyurl.com/4k9dk3mu

Dollar          18 miles NE of Cascade      3,483 acres              0%                       124                         https://tinyurl.com/bef6r3tz

Goat            11 miles SE of Cascade       2,708 acres              0%                       127                         https://tinyurl.com/2h4a3dvr

Cause: Lightning (All Fires)                                                        Total Incident Personnel: 1,003

Weather | Anticipated Fire Behavior: 

As predicted, yesterday’s hot, dry, and windy weather caused a significant increase in fire behavior, with notable growth on the Boulder, Goat, and Snag fires. Today, a red flag warning is in effect from 9 am to midnight. Two rounds of thunderstorms are expected to pass through the fire area this morning and again this evening, bringing copious lightning and outflow winds up to 45 miles per hour. Little rain is expected. High temperatures and relative humidity are expected to moderate slightly with the arrival of storm events. Active to extreme fire behavior is expected today. Crews are prepared to respond to increased fire activity on the West Mountain fires, as well as to attack and extinguish new lightning-caused ignitions.

• Army crews from the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion based at Joint Base Lewis McChord are currently assisting with suppression efforts on the West Mountain Fires as well as assisting with adjacent wildfires in the area.

Boulder Fire: Go evacuations are in effect on Cabarton Road on the west side from the Cabarton Bridge to the intersection with West Mountain and on West Mountain Road from Cabarton north to French Creek.

• Under hot, dry, breezy conditions, the Boulder Fire spotted north of Forest Road 446. Most of this fire growth occurred in the Hurdy and Olson drainages. Boulder Fire is our top priority due to proximity to residential areas.
• Type 1 helicopters and water scoopers were utilized to drop water to suppress fire and slow the fire’s progression.
• Firefighters have been moved from the Dollar Fire to assist with suppression efforts on the Boulder Fire.

Dollar Fire:

• Four Army crews supported firefighting efforts on the Dollar Fire yesterday.
• Firefighters are securing and mopping up heat that could threaten the containment line, focusing on the southwestern edge. Some growth occurred at the fire’s north end, near Squaretop Mountain and Squaretop Lake, where rocky terrain and scattered fuels are not conducive to carrying fire. 

Snag Fire:

• There was active fire behavior and spotting along the fire’s northern edge at Warm Lake Road, along the eastern edge in Tyndall Creek, and along the southern edge south of Forest Road 409 yesterday.
• At the north end, spot fires spread north across the Warm Lake Road. Crews were able to hem them in with hand line, and they stand ready to attack additional spot fires in that area tomorrow.
• To the east of Snag Fire, masticators are being used to turn brush and regenerating trees between the fire and the Warm Lake area. Dozers are ready to construct contingency lines in this area quickly if they become necessary.
• Along the fire’s southern edge, fire spotted south across Forest Road 409 in terrain not accessible by firefighters.
• Firefighters, with two Army crews, continue to secure and mop up along the western flank to ensure fire does not escape containment.

Goat Fire:

• The southern edge of the Goat Fire showed active fire behavior yesterday, growing toward the south.
• Crews stand ready to defensively burn out fuels along the east side of Forest Service Trail 099 to stall the fire’s advance if it approaches the trail at the top of the ridge.