Single Publication

Wapiti Fire Update

Sunday, September 1, 2024 – 9:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Phone: 208-593-7132 (public) 208-901-8973 (media) 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

Interactive Map:https://tinyurl.com/WapitiFireInfoMap

Special Notes: 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. Highway 75 remains open.

Current Situation: Firefighters saw increased fire activity yesterday in divisions MM, WW, and PP as the smoke lifted in these areas. The smoke should clear this afternoon, allowing the fire to become more active in all divisions. This will give air resources the opportunity to provide more support to firefighters on the ground. Currently, two fixed-wing air attacks and six helicopters are assigned to the fire, with air tankers and scoopers available as needed. Most fire movement will likely be to the north and east due to prevailing winds. The firefighters’ focus continues to be on the protection of structures and communities while remaining vigilant for the fire’s potential to become active if conditions change. Though containment remains at 0%, the fire’s perimeter is becoming more secure each day due to the firefighters’ hard work in constructing firelines and other control features. All activities are being coordinated on the ground with natural and cultural resource specialists to protect known values.

Division DD: Crews will continue extending the indirect line from the Stanley Ranger Station to Redfish Lake. The objective is to tie into the suppression work done for the Bench Lake Fire from earlier this year. Fire managers are assessing opportunities for indirect line placement south of Redfish Lake. This indirect line would check the fire’s progress in the event it moves out of Sawtooth Wilderness towards Highway 75 and values at risk. The fire in the Wilderness is slowly growing towards the south but is not currently threatening values.

Division HH: Crews will continue constructing indirect fireline around Goat Falls, Stanley and nearby communities and extending the fireline from Goat Falls to the Stanley Ranger Station. This indirect line will tie in with the indirect line being constructed in Division DD.

Division KK and Structure Group East: Firelines once again held firm as crews continued to secure the fire’s edge and watch for hot spots. Crews will again use strategic firing operations to remove unburned fuels between the fire and control lines in the Iron Creek area. Crews will remain in and around communities and other values at risk, mopping up, reducing hazards, and maintaining defensible space. Mop-up continues on the large spot east of Highway 21, ensuring it is secure and poses no threat to the community.

Division PP: Yesterday, crews working in the area where the fire crossed Highway 21 used firing operations to establish line from National Forest Road 290 into the old Trap Fire. Crews will deepen this line and secure the fire’s edge today to stop the fire’s progress. They are also continuing prep work to protect Bradley Boy Scout Camp and other surrounding structures in the event the fire crosses Highway 21 further to the northwest. Work continues along Highway 21 near and east of the division break to keep the fire to the south side of the highway.

Division MM: Crews have constructed line from Bull Trout Lake around the campground to Martin Lake, extending to the perimeter of the 1992 County Line Fire. Today, crews will work to add depth to this fireline and watch for spotting. The actions are designed to protect the campground and prevent the fire from moving further north. Additional crews have been working along Highway 21 to keep the fire south and east of the highway.

Division WW and Structure Group West: Crews continue patrolling within Hanging Valley and the Wapiti Creek area, along the 524 road, and the Grandjean area looking for hot spots and removing hazards. Crews will begin cutting indirect fireline between Warm Springs and Ten Axe. Fireline construction will also continue around the Sourdough Lodge area. Crews will assess opportunities to harden the lines around the subdivisions of Two Ravens, Ten Ax, and Seven Peaks. Crews successfully burned out around the Warm Springs airstrip, and today will continue securing the fire’s edge and preventing it from impacting Bonneville Campground and the airstrip.

Division VV:  The Division DD/VV break has been moved westward, and the focus in Division VV today will be on assessing opportunities for fireline construction south of Highway 21 on the southwestern corner of the fire. Fire supervisors are looking for opportunities to check the fire’s slow westward movement on the south side of the highway.

Weather, Fuels, and Fire Behavior:

Elevated fire weather conditions are expected today. Very dry conditions persist with afternoon humidity dropping to 10–15%. Moderate to heavy smoke is expected in the morning underneath an inversion. Increased west to southwest winds are expected to result in better smoke ventilation and improved visibility. Expect increased fire activity beginning about 1:00 p.m. An approaching low pressure system will bring a chance for isolated showers starting late Sunday afternoon. A Fire Weather Watch is in effect on Monday due to scattered thunderstorm and gusty and erratic wind potential.

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 has established a shelter at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 24695 US-93, Challis, ID.

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

To sign up for Boise County Alert Sense emergency notification enroll online at https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/publicUser.aspx?regionid=1163

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: 0414-04-151 for portions of the Boise, Sawtooth, and Salmon-Challis National Forests can be found at this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sawtooth/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 97,753 acres

Containment: 0%

Total Personnel: 1442

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

Interactive Map: https://tinyurl.com/WapitiFireInfoMap