Boise, Payette and Sawtooth National Forest Fires

Red Flag Warning Focuses Efforts on Holding Line Boise, ID-The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning beginning at noon today for the Boise National Forest and parts of the Payette and Sawtooth National Forests. Unstable, dry air along with extremely low humidity and high temperatures is expected. These conditions contribute to the development of new fires, spotting of current fires and erratic fire behavior. The Elk Complex (208-653-2459) is estimated at 116,914 acres and 25% contained. Last night, crews successfully completed burnout operations on the northeast flank from Dog Mountain to the southeast section of last year’s Trinity Ridge fire. This burnout is a key step in reducing risk to structures along the Pine/Featherville Road. Firefighters will be alert to the possibility of spot fires in that area due to today’s Red Flag conditions. The Pine/Featherville Road remains closed from Highway 20 to just north of Featherville. The communities of Pine and Featherville are still under evacuation orders. The structure assessment in the Fall Creek drainage has been completed. 38 residences and 43 outbuildings have been destroyed, totaling 81 structures. Elmore County Sheriff’s Office has initiated a phone line for Fall and Lester Creek landowners to call for information on their residences. The phone number is 208-653-2505, and is staffed daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. More information will be given at tonight’s public meeting at the Elk’s Lodge in Mountain Home. The meeting is at 6 p.m. Representatives from the Incident Management Team, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Department and Idaho Power will be in attendance. The Placer Fire is located about 4 miles south of Idaho City in Thorn Creek. It is approximately 100 acres in size and 20% contained. Fire activity is low and no structures are threatened. Firefighters are making excellent progress in containing the fire. The Pony Complex (866-347-0636) is now estimated at 147,806 acres and is 50% contained. Today crews will focus on the north end of the fire in the Blacks Creek area. Firefighters are working to secure the fire line without burning additional grazing land. Some roads have re-opened in the area of the fire. The remaining road closures include Blacks Creek Road (residents allowed, fire dependent), Anderson Ranch Dam at Highway 20, and Prairie Road/Cow Creek Road (Prairie residents allowed, fire dependent), Indian Creek/Simco. Mayfield Road is partially closed with no northbound traffic allowed from Blacks Creek. Incident information for both large fires can be viewed at www.inciweb.org. The Boise National Forest has initiated a large area closure that extends roughly on the east side from Road 181 to the junction with the Fairfield Ranger District, Sawtooth National Forest boundary, including the Pine/Featherville road; north from Atlanta along the Middle Fork Boise Road (Forest Road 268) over to the Deer Park Rental Cabin; then west along Forest Road 327 to Idaho City and Highway 21 on the west. Additionally, the Trinity Lakes Recreation area is closed. The Middle Fork Boise River Road is open from the Spring Shores Marina for residents of Twin Springs and Atlanta and only as long as fire conditions allow. For specific information and a map, please visit http://inciweb.org/incident/3616/. Stage I fire restrictions are in effect including no campfires outside of an agency designated recreation site until further notice. For more information, please visit www.blm.gov/id. There is a Fire Information Center established in Boise which will be staffed from 7 AM to 7 PM. The center can be contacted at 208-384-3266. Personnel at the center will be able to provide general information on large fires in the area. For more information on Wildfire Smoke and your Health please visit: http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Health/EnvironmentalHealth/WildfireSmoke/tabid/2172/Default.aspx Or visit the Idaho Smoke Blog: Idsmoke.blogspot.com