Single Publication

The West Mountain Complex includes five fires- Boulder, Snag, Wolf Creek, Dollar, and Goat Fires. Read our daily update for more information. Scroll to the bottom of the page for PDF versions of the daily update, the daily map, and the daily smoke report.

QUICK FACTS
Fire  |  Location  |  Size  |  Containment  |  Start Date
Boulder  |  9 miles SW of Cascade  |  2,264 acres  |  26%  |  7/24/2024
Wolf Creek  |  5 miles W of Donnelly  |  1,154 acres  |  90%  |  7/24/2024
Snag  |  11 miles E of Cascade  |  20,948 acres  |  0%  |  8/5/2024
Dollar  |  18 miles NE of Cascade  |  1,814 acres  |  0%   |  8/5/2024
Goat  |  11 miles SE of Cascade  |  1,276 acres  |  0%   |  8/5/2024
Gabe | 9 miles SW of Cascade | 5 acres | 0% | 8/15/2024

Cause: Lightning (All Fires)
Total Incident Personnel: 925

Weather | Anticipated Fire Behavior: 
Yesterday’s temperatures were warmer, settling around upper 70s to lower 80s. Humidity levels were lower, dropping to 15-20% by the afternoon. Windy conditions persisted throughout the day and evening, with heavy smoke affecting the area. Although fire managers expected increased fire activity yesterday, the heavy smoke acted like an inversion by stabilizing the lower atmosphere, ultimately leading to more moderate fire behavior. Beginning today, conditions are expected to remain moderate throughout early next week, but temperatures will remain warm. Low humidity levels are anticipated throughout the day today. Winds will gust around 20mph out of the southwest will persist in the area.

Boulder Fire: https://tinyurl.com/ycdfv3tv

Several spots were observed on the northeast perimeter throughout the day yesterday. However, fire crews were able to contain all spots of concern. The western perimeter of the fire is bordered by rock outcroppings, which effectively reduce the fire’s ability to spread. Fire crews on the Boulder Fire completed firing operations on the southeast perimeter, northwest of 421E Road.

Snag Fire: https://tinyurl.com/4k9dk3mu

The Valley County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with Great Basin Incident Management Team 2, have established one-way escorts for residents and contractors through the Snag Fire affected areas. This escort will be provided for reasons of necessity and not for recreation purposes. For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/mtartvas

Although fire behavior on the Snag Fire was less active than predicted, group torching of trees and surface burning was observed today. Heavy aviation resources were assigned to the fire throughout the day. Fire crews are working to plumb along the western portion of the fire along the Warm Lake Highway. Plumbing a fire means setting up a system of hoses, pumps, and water sources to control and contain it. This setup helps firefighters manage hotspots and prevent fire spread beyond established perimeters. Additionally, a masticator is being utilized along old containment lines that were previously used during a past wildfire event to reduce available fuel sources.

Wolf Creek Fire: https://tinyurl.com/mcksrfvh

Containment on the Wolf Creek Fire increased again today. Fire crews will continue to monitor the fire for internal heat. The interior of the fire continues to burn isolated pockets of timber and forest understory. Fire personnel are also working on rehabilitation of control lines. Military members of the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion, a combat engineer battalion of the United States Army based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, are training in firefighting tactics on the Wolf Creek Fire. After training completion, the battalion will be assigned to other fires being managed by the incident management team.

Dollar Fire: https://tinyurl.com/bef6r3tz

Fire activity on the Dollar Fire showed active surface burning with some isolated torching of trees. Fire crews worked on installing handlines along the southern perimeter of the fire. Installing handline is the process of removing available fuels down to mineral soil using firefighting hand tools to reduce the amount of burnable material. This suppression tactic will continue through the day today.

Goat Fire: https://tinyurl.com/2h4a3dvr

Aviation resources are tracking the Goat Fire’s spread northward toward the Snag Fire and eastward toward the Middle Fork Payette drainage. The western edge of the Goat Fire is adjacent to a previously burned area, which could help slow its progress. Fire managers are coordinating to allocate firefighting crews to the Goat Fire as progress is made on other fires being managed by the incident command team.

Gabe Fire:

The Gabe Fire is 100% contained. Ground crews and aviation resources worked throughout the day yesterday to ensure no further fire spread or heat were present. Fire managers will continue to monitor the area to ensure no further fire activity occurs. 

SNAG FIRE EVACUATION INFORMATION

The Valley County Sheriff’s Office issued a “ready” evacuation order for Warm Lake residents and the North Shore Lodge at Warm Lake on August 7. The map can be found on Inciweb: https://tinyurl.com/42auxnk8.  A second “ready” evacuation order was issued on August 8 for the Horsethief area, including the YMCA Camp, and areas of Scott Valley. This map can also be found on Inciweb, with the relevant areas outlined in purple:  https://tinyurl.com/4vfj657x

Review the READY, SET, GO evacuation procedure for Valley County: https://www.co.valley.id.us/ReadySetGo

For timely information on evacuations, check out your county’s emergency alert system. 

• Valley County: https://www.co.valley.id.us/CompleteEmergencyNotificationandAlerting
• Adams County: https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/PublicUser.aspx?regionid=1077

ROAD CLOSURES

Warm Lake Highway Closure: The Valley County Sheriff’s Office has closed Warm Lake Highway due to the Snag Fire. The Warm Lake Highway is closed at the Horsethief Road intersection east toward Warm Lake and from the Johnson Creek Road intersection west toward Warm Lake. Scott Valley residents will be allowed access. For updates on county closures visit: https://www.co.valley.id.us/departments/SheriffsOffice.

FOREST CLOSURES

Hunting Closures: Prior to entering the backcountry, Idaho Fish and Game advises hunters to check with their local Forest Service ranger district offices or county sheriffs’ offices for fire closures in their hunt areas. For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/4td8hwzc

August 12, 2024 update: The Boise National Forest has modified or expanded their wildfire closures to address public and firefighter safety and respond to increased wildfire growth. This new closure area begins at the south end of the Dollar/Oro (Snag) fire closure area and continues south to Crouch and the Banks-Lowman Hwy, and east to the 579, 563 and 582 roads.

Wolf Creek Fire Closures: On the Payette National Forest, a closure including popular National Forest System roads around the Wolf Creek fire such as: sections of NFS #1763 (West Mountain Jeep Trail), #835, #206, #326. On the Boise National Forest, Forest Road #435 (Anderson Lake Road) was closed on August 1. 

Boulder Fire Closures: The Boise National Forest has issued a closure order #0402-04-98 for National Forest System (NFS) roads, trails and lands encompassing the Boulder Fire. The closure was enacted to protect public safety and support fire suppression activities. The closure includes Blue Lake and Snowbank Mountain Road (#446) along with all #404 and #421 system roads. 

For maps and more detailed descriptions of the closures on the Payette National Forest, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/payette/alerts-notices

For maps and more detailed descriptions of the closures on the Boise National Forest, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices 

Fire Restrictions: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions have been issued for the Payette Fire Restrictions Area on the Payette National Forest and the West Central Mountains Fire Restrictions Area on the Boise National Forest. For more information on the restrictions and a very helpful interactive map, visit https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/

Important Links

• Payette National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/payette
• Payette National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PayetteNationalForest
• Boise National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/boise
• Boise National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoiseNationalForest
• Idaho Department of Lands: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/