Single Publication

August 23, 2024

Email: 2024.flat@firenet.gov

Incident Information Phone Line: 208-923-1265 - daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Flat Fire Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IdahoDepartmentofLands

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idids-2024-flat

Smoke Report: https://www.airnow.gov

Flat Fire Facts

Location: Approximately one mile northeast of Pioneerville in Boise County, Idaho

Reported: August 5, 2024 

Cause: Lightning/Natural

Acres: 3,732

Containment: 53%

Fuels: Timber with grass and understory

Personnel: 431 (10 hand crews, 10 engines, 6 water tenders, 2 dozers, 3 masticators and 5 helicopters)

Highlights: Yesterday was another productive day and fire containment continues to increase. The fire has remained within its footprint, the increase in acreage is from more precise mapping of the perimeter.  The northern side of the fire, along the previous 2016 Pioneer fire, has provided lower fire intensity and slowed the rate of spread allowing crews and equipment to continue to improve containment lines. Although it has slowed fire intensity, it has also slowed firefighter progress as the many snags (standing, dead trees) in the burn scar have to be mitigated to allow for firefighter safety. Along the eastern edge of the fire, resources are going direct (along the fire edge) where possible, although steep terrain along with snags also dictates indirect line (not along the fire edge) be established.  Unburned pockets of fuel inside the fire continue to put up light smoke. With relative humidity reaching as low as 7% and wind gusts to 30 MPH yesterday, the control lines held. Overall fire behavior has been minimal. Mop up progresses both along and deeper into the fire, as it continues to be monitored and patrolled. Fire line repair work has begun in areas where possible. This jump starts the naturalization of disturbed areas so as to control erosion, break down of organic matter and visually improve areas of bare earth that stopped fire progression.

Fire Behavior and Weather: A low pressure system approaching today will bring winds with gusts predicted to 28 MPH. Warm and dry conditions experienced yesterday will moderate as temperatures begin to lower and relative humidity increases through the next few days. There is a chance of wetting rain for today predicted to be a 10% chance.

Road and Trail Closures and Restrictions: The Boise National Forest has implemented an Area Closure for the Flat Fire. See link for additional information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices. The Summit Flat Road (#380) between Pioneerville and Coulter Summit and FS Road 379 (Elk Creek Road) is closed for public and firefighter safety.

Fires Burning in the Vicinity: There are other fires burning north of the Flat Fire. See link for additional information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-middle-fork-complex-fire-bulldog-nellie-anderson.

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