Single Publication

Wapiti Fire Update

Saturday, August 24, 2024 – 9:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Phone: 208-593-7132 Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Email: 2024.wapiti@firenet.gov

InciWeb:https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-wapiti-fire

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wapitifireinfo2024/

Information Linktree:https://linktr.ee/WapitiFireInfo2024

Special Notes: Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 (RM CIMT1) assumed management of the Wapiti Fire at 6:00 am this morning. We thank the outgoing Northern Rockies CIMT5, hosting agencies, cooperators, and the many firefighters on the incident for a smooth and comprehensive transition to our team.

State Highway 21 is closed from east of Lowman to Stanley (MP84 to MP130) due to wildfire activity. The closure is necessary for public safety and to provide safe conditions for firefighters working along the highway.

A community meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, August 25, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the Stanley Community Building in Stanley, ID.

Current Situation: Multiple days of Red Flag Warnings and extreme burning conditions have been a challenge for firefighters on the Wapiti Fire. It is estimated that the fire has grown to over 45,000 acres over the period, expanding most significantly on the northeastern corner across Stanley Lake and crossing State Highway 21 to the north. It has also grown westward and crossed Highway 21 on the fire’s west side, as well as moving towards the Warm Springs area east of Lowman. Crews, engines, heavy equipment, and aircraft are working to secure structures and other values at risk through point protection strategies throughout the fire affected area.

Crews have been working on structure assessments and implementing point protection tactics along the Highway 21 corridor from the northern extension of the fire south to Stanley. This includes noting hazards such as fuel tanks and flammable vegetation near structures, as well as deploying hoses, pumps, and sprinkler systems around improvements in the wildland-urban interface. Today, a Structure Protection Group East has been established to continue and expand this work.

In the interior of the fire, around Grandjean and along the 524 Road, engines and crews continue 24 hour a day work to mop up around structures and secure the area to prevent any potential for reburns to occur.

Crews on the west side of the fire are also working 24 hours a day to protect structures from the fire’s westward advance. Fireline around structures and hoses, pumps, and sprinkler systems have been deployed. A Structure Protection Group West has been established today to continue and expand this work. Structure assessments are ongoing in the Warm Springs area. Further north, fire managers are assessing the fire’s recent advancement across Highway 21 and are developing suppression strategies for containing that portion of the fire.

Weather, Fuels, and Fire Behavior:

Red Flag Warning conditions existed yesterday, leading to extreme fire behavior. Afternoon SSW winds over the fire were sustained at 40-45 mph, and relative humidity was 15-20%. A cold front moved in from the SW overnight, bringing increasing humidity and cloud cover with a possibility of scattered showers over the next 24 hours. Precipitation may average about 0.10 inch, which could moderate fire behavior for a day

or two. Skies will clear Sunday night and nighttime temperatures will drop to around freezing.

Evacuations:

For evacuation information on the Wapiti Fire, please see the Custer County Sheriff’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Custer-County-Sheriff-Idaho-61558947312289/ and the Boise County Sheriff’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/boisecountysheriff/ .

Red Cross is set up in the Stanley Community Center to assist fire evacuees.

To sign up for Custer County CodeRED emergency notifications, text CUSTER to 99411 or enroll online at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/BF28E45537FF .

Closures and Fire Restrictions:

State Highway 21 is closed from MP84 to MP130 for public and firefighter safety.

A Wapiti Fire Area Closure / Forest Order: 0402-05-95 for portions of the Boise, Sawtooth, and Salmon-Chalis National Forests can be found at this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices .

Boise National Forest Stage 1 Fire Restrictions / Forest Order: 0402-00-63 can be found at this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices .

Sawtooth National Forest Stage 1 Fire Restrictions / Forest Order 0414-00-044 can be found at this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sawtooth/alerts-notices .

Fire restrictions on state and private lands may be found at this site: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/ .

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Wapiti Fire. Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Wapiti Fire Statistics:

Size: over 45,000 acres

Containment: 10%

Total Personnel: 420

Location: Grandjean, ID

Reported: July 24, 2024

Cause: lightning

For More Information:

Information Phone: 208-593-7132

Email: 2024.wapiti@firenet.gov

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-wapiti-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wapitifireinfo2024/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/WapitiFireInfo2024