Single Publication

Wapiti Fire Update

Monday, August 26, 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) hosted a community meeting Sunday, August 25, 2024, at the Stanley Community Building in Stanley, ID. A recording of the meeting can be viewed on our Facebook page Wapiti Fire Information 2024 (see link above).

A second community meeting will be held at the fire station in Lowman at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, August 27.  An update on the Middle Fork Complex will also be provided by Great Basin CIMT3.

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.

Current Situation: On Sunday, cloud cover moved out earlier than expected and fire activity picked up. Firefighters continued prepping around structures in the subdivisions near Stanley as well as along Highway 21 towards Lowman. The fire is now 68,124 acres, having moved very little over the weekend. The suppression focus is on protecting structures and communities with dozer and hand lines, air resources, and establishing hose lays, and then strengthening these efforts with strategic firing operations. The overall strategy remains full suppression of the fire. All activities are being coordinated on the ground with Resource Advisors to protect known values.

Division KK and Structure Group East: Crews will continue to mop up around structures in the Cow Camp area. The fire has been slowly backing down towards Highway 21. Yesterday and last night, crews burned out along Highway 21 north of Homestead, bringing the fire around Homestead and strengthening the protection features around the community. The structure group is continuing prep work around Crooked Creek, Iron Creek, and Goat Falls communities. Crews are working to get this work done before the anticipated winds shift later in the week, which could push the fire in a southeasterly direction. These firelines have been plumbed with hose lays, supported with water tanks, pumps, and sprinkler systems. 

Division PP: Work continues to clear trees along the Highway 21 corridor and mop up the areas where the fire crossed the road. The objective is to open the highway for safe travel for incident resources, mop up around structures, and establish containment lines to prevent future fire growth. 

Division MM: Fire managers are assessing and implementing point protection around values at risk in the Bull Trout Lake area. They will be focusing their efforts around the Boy Scout Camp and campground. It is anticipated that fire activity will pick up in this area today and strategic firing operations may be initiated to protect these values.

Division WW and Structure Group West: The fire is slowly backing into the Warms Springs drainage and fire managers are evaluating opportunities to conduct strategic firing operations to bring the fire down to the bottom of the drainage. Crews are assessing and implementing plans around the subdivisions of Two Ravens, Ten Ax, and Seven Peaks to begin point protection work. They will also continue mopping up around structures in Hanging Valley and Bear Valley, along the 524 road and the Grandjean area. Fire managers are continuing to work with the Lowman Fire Chief to assess values at risk, point protection needs, and containment opportunities in the area between Warm Springs and Lowman along the Highway 21 corridor. 

Weather, Fuels, and Fire Behavior: 

Temperatures should continue to warm throughout the week and humidities will decrease. Cloud cover will clear out, allowing for fine dead fuels to dry and warm. This will increase fire behavior, resulting in the potential for increased rates of spread, torching, and spotting. 
                                                               

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 prepared to establish a shelter in Challis, ID if necessary.

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 68,124 acres  

Containment: 0%

Total Personnel: 522

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

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Wapiti Fire Map 8-26-24

Mon, 08/26/2024 - 12:57

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Wapiti Fire Map 8-26-24

Wapiti Fire Map 8-26-24