Single Publication

Limepoint and Cliff Mountain Fires 

Fire Information 208-992-3032 

2024.limepoint@firenet.gov 

Limepoint: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idpaf-limepoint-fire 

Cliff Mountain: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idpaf-cliff-mountain 

https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/ 

Sunday, August 4, 2024 

The Limepoint and Cliff Mountain Fires are burning in the Hells Canyon area, located on the Payette National Forest in west-central Idaho, east of the Snake River bordering Oregon. Yesterday, Big Bar Camping Area was evacuated and closed due to fire activity near the area.  

Note: A community meeting about the Limepoint/Oxbow and Cliff Mountain Fires will be held 7:00 p.m., tomorrow, Monday, August 5th at the Adams County Recreation Center at 104 S. Galena Street, Council, Idaho 83612. An operational briefing about the fires at the meeting will be presented via Facebook Live on the Payette National Forest’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/). 

Limepoint Fire 

The Limepoint Fire is north of Oxbow Dam in Adams County, Idaho and was started by lightning on July 24th, burning in tall grass, brush and timber. The southern part of the fire was once a smaller, separate fire named the Oxbow Fire, but both fires burned together and are now collectively known as the Limepoint Fire. It is now 24,605 acres (increase of 2,228 acres) with 5 percent containment. The fire threatens homes in several areas, including Cuprum, Bear, Wildhorse, Paradise Flat and Ditch Creek. Idaho Power transmission lines to the south of the fire are threatened.  

The fire remained active yesterday in three areas: southeastern, southern and northern flanks. Aircraft, including three helicopters, large air tankers, and single engine air tankers worked throughout the fire to support ground crews and equipment. Large air tankers dropped retardant on areas on the southeastern flank, including the Bear Creek/Wildhorse areas to help keep fire out of Wildhorse Canyon. Structure protection specialists continued to work throughout the fire yesterday and will continue work today in Bear, Cuprum, Paradise Flat, Ditch Creek, Wildhorse and Mill Creek.  

On the southeastern flank near Barber Flats, crews continued constructing bulldozer lines to the edge of Wildhorse Canyon along the fire’s northern and southern flanks. Airtankers dropped retardant along the edge of the canyon to keep the fire from moving east into the canyon. An approximately 40-acres spot fire burned in the Flat Creek Canyon in timber stringers, which has not been fully contained, but is a high priority today. 

On the eastern flank, fire activity was high around Boulder Creek. Crews continued to hold the fireline paralleling Boulder Creek and added fire hose to allow crews to use water to further secure the line. Firefighters improved fireline from Forest Road 071 to the Indian Creek/Huntley Gulch confluence. They also improved a contingency line west of Bear, and they mopped up along Forest Road 071 (Calf Pen Road).  

On the northern flank, the fire continued to move north down into Kinney Creek. Big Bar Camping Area was evacuated and closed due to fire backing down from Allison Creek towards the camping area. The fire is within a half mile of Horse Mountain Lookout, which has been protected by a hotshot crew clearing burnable vegetation around it.  

The southwestern flank near Oxbow and western flank along Forest Road 454 (Hells Canyon Road) south of Big Bar had minimal fire activity yesterday. Several areas along this flank were determined contained.  

Eleven hand crews, 21 engines, eight bulldozers, four helicopters and 524 people are working on the Limepoint Fire. Areas where structure protection specialists continue to assess and conduct structure protection include Bear, Cuprum, northeast of Cuprum, Paradise Flat, Ditch Creek and the OX Ranch.  

On the southeastern flank, south of Forest Road 071, crews will continue to construct and improve bulldozer lines to Wildhorse Canyon. They will construct direct firelines around a 40-acre spot fire within Flat Creek Canyon. Firefighters will improve firelines and mop up around an area of heat on the southern flank of fire north of Barber Flats. Helicopter drops will help ground crews, engines and heavy equipment in this area.  

On the eastern flank, crews continue to mop up and improve Forest Road 071. They will improve the fireline north of Boulder Creek and will use bulldozers to improve a fireline between Forest Road 071 and the confluence of Indian Creek/Huntley Gulch. If conditions are favorable, crews could conduct strategic burning to consume unburned vegetation south of firelines near Boulder Creek. Firefighters will continue to improve bulldozer line west of Bear and plan to continue the line north to Black Lake Road.  

On the northern flank, crews will continue assessing opportunities for indirect firelines along defensible ridges and natural barriers, and they will evaluate possible defensive firing opportunities around the lookout in the coming days.  

On the western flank, firefighters will continue to mop up and check for hot spots along the Snake River. 

Cliff Mountain Fire 

The Cliff Mountain Fire started by lightning on July 25th in Hells Canyon National Recreation Area in wilderness just below Hells Canyon Dam 25 miles east of Joseph, Oregon in Adams and Idaho Counties, Idaho. It also was once two fires, the Muddy Fire and the Cliff Mountain Fire, which burned into each other. It is 1,108 acres with 20 percent containment, burning mostly in wilderness, with growth slowed in some areas due to steep rocks. Hells Canyon Dam and associated powerlines are threatened by the fire. Minimal fire activity was observed on the fire yesterday with only a few areas showing smoke on the northeast flank. One ground personnel is assigned to the fire. Firefighters are identifying values near the fire and planning future protection. 

Weather/Fire Behavior: Minimal rainfall fell on the fire last night. Relative humidity is higher and temperatures are lower this morning compared to yesterday. Maximum temperatures today will reach 91 and minimal relative humidity will be 24 percent. Winds will be from the north-northwest 5 to 8 mph. 

Dead and down fuels will continue to dry, making all types of vegetation available to burn. In heavy grass, a new start could burn 350 acres in an hour if undetected. Unburned areas along the Snake River corridor could result in rapid uphill runs where fuels are available. As the fire continues to back down the north and west sides of Horse Mountain, there is potential for slope reversal on the north side of Kinney Creek and movement to the east toward Horse Mountain. Steep terrain and dense stands of understory brush and timber could send embers 0.25 mile into receptive fuels. Spotting across eastern and southeastern firelines is possible as conditions warm throughout the day. On the east side of the fire near Cuprum, areas that have held heat for several days will become active as the day goes on. Unburned fuel on the southern flank of the fire has potential to support rapid uphill spread if fire gets established. Steep and rugged terrain in the Cliff Mountain Fire pose challenges for firefighter access if the fire spots outside of its current footprint. 

Air quality information is available at www.airnow.gov and www.wildlandfiresmoke.net.  

Evacuations: Level 3 (Go Now!) evacuations are still in effect for Cuprum, Bear, Wildhorse and Barber Flats per Adams County Sheriff’s Office. A Level 2 (Get Set - Be prepared to leave) evacuation notice is in effect for Ditch Creek and Paradise Flat, and a Level 1 (Get Ready) is in effect for Mill Creek. If you have evacuated areas under Level 3 evacuations, please do not go back. Fire operations personnel will work closely with the sheriff’s office wit recommendations to reenter evacuated areas when safe to do so. 

Closures and Restrictions: The Payette National Forest issued a Forest Closure to protect public safety during the Limepoint and Cliff Mountain wildfires. The closure includes, but is not limited to, the following recreation areas: Big Bar, Black Lake, Sheep Rock, Kinney Point and Horse Mountain Lookout. Huckleberry Campgrounds is also closed. For more information, see the full closure order and map at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/payette/fire. 

Kleinschmidt Grade (Forest Road 050), Calf Pen Road and Landore Roads are closed. The Council-Cuprum Road is closed at the Forest boundary at the snowmobile parking lot. Forest Road 454, which runs along the river, is open, but please drive with caution. You may see active fire, rolling debris, firefighting equipment and firefighters on and along the road. For your safety and the safety of firefighters, do not stop on the road. 

A temporary flight restriction is in effect in and around the fire area.  

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect for the Payette National Forest and all state, private and BLM lands in the fire area. Prohibited: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site, or on your own land, and only within a permanent landowner-provided structure; and smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.