BOISE, Idaho — Wildfires have been burning throughout Idaho and Eastern Oregon, posing a threat to the public and prompting multiple evacuation notices.
According to the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), as of Aug. 31, there have been 263 fires this year.
This story is a living document and will be updated daily. It will contain the latest information on fires in your region.
Power Information:
Idaho Power reminds the public that with wildfires, comes risks. Idaho Power may need to implement their PSPS safety plan - in which they turn off power in select areas as a safety measure, mitigating fire risk as best as possible. This plan will be communicated to the public through alerts, if the PSPS safety plan is needed.
This article will list fires, with the newest updates being towards the top.
Wolf Creek and Boulder Fire (Sept. 6 - 10:30 a.m.)
As of Friday, Sept. 6, the Boulder Fire has burned 3,957 acres and is 24% contained.
The Valley County Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday, Sept. 3, that evacuation levels for residents living near the Boulder Fire had been lowered.
Evacuation orders for residents in Zone 6 have been removed, the sheriff's office said on Tuesday. The fire is no longer threatening Zones 2a and 1a, and residents in the Herrick Hills subdivision.
The sheriff's office provided a list of current evacuation notices:
READY - Zone 3a – City of Cascade
SET - Zone 2, 3, 4, 5 – West Mountain Road from Cabarton Road, north to French Creek *All roadblocks will be lifted during the set status. *
GO - One private landowner in Zone 2
On Sep. 1, the Valley County Sheriff's Office issued evacuations:
The Valley County Sheriff's Office and the Boise National Forest have given a "GO" evacuation order for residents in the path of the Boulder Fire as of Sept. 1 at 4:30 p.m.
"Cabarton Road on the west side from the Cabarton bridge to the intersection of West Mountain and Cabarton. Also, on West Mountain Road from Cabarton north to French Creek," stated a post on social media.
Authorities reported on Thursday, Sept. 5, that Wolf Creek has burned roughly 1,154 acres and is over 95% contained. As of Sept. 5, there has been no new fire growth on Wednesday.
Fire officials report that the weather from Monday allowed the Boulder Fire to spread to the east and west and reduced containment as well as increasing acreage.
Wolf Creek Fire is burning five miles north of Donnelly, and the Boulder Fire is located nine miles southwest of Cascade.
Army soldiers from the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion, are helping with the Boulder 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.
Authorities said the road leads to the top of West Mountain, where a closure of the area is currently in place because of the fire.
The road closure will begin on Thursday, Aug. 1, and will remain closed until the end of September or conditions change, authorities said.
Snag Fire/Dollar Fire (Sept. 6 - 10:30 a.m.)
As of Sept. 6, the Dollar Fire had burned 4,170 acres and is 3% contained, while the Snag Fire had burned 32,478 acres and is 3% contained.
Army soldiers from the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion, are helping with the Snag Fire.
Evacuations: 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.
Review the READY, SET, GO evacuation procedure for Valley County: https://www.co.valley.id.us/ReadySetGo
Goat Fire (Sept. 6 - 10:30 a.m.)
As of Friday, Sept. 6, the Goat Fire has burned over 4,613 acres and is 0% contained.
The Goat Fire ignited on August 5, and the western perimeter of the borders of the 2007 East Fire, officials said, may help slow fire progression.
Wapiti Fire: (Sept. 6 - 9:45 a.m.)
The fire has burned 113,280 acres and is 12% contained as of Sept. 6. An estimated containment date is Oct. 10.
The Custer County Sheriff's office announced on Wednesday, Sept. 4, that Stanely residents in Zone 1 will be allowed to return home tomorrow morning.
However, before returning home, residents are asked to go to the Emergency Operation Office behind City Hall between 8 and 10 a.m. to receive a pass. The sheriff's office said IDs and vehicle information will be required.
At 10 a.m., residents who have their passes will be allowed back home. But the sheriff's office said to stay alert as the area will remain on 'SET' status.
Fire officials have set up another community meeting at the fire station in Lowman at 6 p.m. on Sept. 3. It can also be watched on Facebook.
Residents of the Lower Stanley and Gateway Community can return to their homes, but the evacs status will be at level 2, "Set," meaning be ready to leave at a moment's notice. The sheriff's office stressed the threat has lessened but hasn't disappeared.
Highway 17 reopened to regular traffic on Thursday, Aug. 29, around noon. However, caution is advised in the area.
The Custer County Sheriff's Office has announced new evacuation orders. Casino Zone and Zone 3 have moved to "SET" status, and Zone 4 and 5 are in "READY".
The Custer County Sheriff's Office have updated their evacuation zones. These zone changes may change later in the day. The lower section of Zone 2 is moved to "GO" status, the upper section is on "SET" status. Casino Zone is in "READY" status, and Zone 3 and 4 remain in "READY" status.
The Custer County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday evening that due to increased fire activity by the Wapiti Fire, further evacuation notices have been issued in Stanley.
Stanley residents in the lower part of Zone 2 from Road North, including Lower Stanley and the Gateway communities, must evacuate immediately, the sheriff's office said on Tuesday.
The Custer County Sheriff's Office said a spot fire jumped Highway 21, prompting the evacuation notices.
On Monday, the Boise County Sheriff's Office announced some evacuation orders for the area.
As of Monday, Aug. 26, Danskin area and Hanging Valley subdivision are in Level 3 "GO NOW". Lightning Creek Road, Ten Ax subdivision, Two Ravens subdivision, Seven Peaks subdivision are in Level 2 "BE SET". Southfork Road and residents along Highway 21 from milepost 82-85 are in Level 1 "BE READY".
In an Aug. 26 update from the Red Cross of Idaho and East Oregon, the evacuation shelter has been moved from Stanley Community Center to Challis Community Center.
The Boise County sheriff's Office announced new levels of evacuations for the Ten Ax, and Two Ravens subdivision in Lowman on Aug. 25.
The Custer County Sheriff's Office also issued the following warning to the community at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24.
"Attention Stanley Area: The Rocky Mountain Team has taken the lead of The Wapiti Fire as of 7:00 am today. Notification Zone 2 is in the SET status and Zone 3 is being placed in the READY status. Be prepared for this to change rapidly depending on the fire activity. SET means be prepared to leave immediately!! READY means have a plan and your stuff ready. Feel free to leave at anytime that you do not feel safe."
On Aug. 23 around 10:45 a.m., the Custer County Sheriff announced evacuations.
Zone Two is in the "Ready" status.
The Boise County Sheriff's office announced on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 22, that Highway 21 between Lowman and Stanley will be closed until further notice as the Wapiti fire continues to burn.
Earlier on Thursday, the Custer County Sheriff's Office announced that the Wapiti Fire has been progressing along Stanley Lake Creek. Several areas are now in Level 2 "BE SET" evacuation orders. Cow Camp Ranches, Homestead Subdivision, Crooked Creek Subdivision, ITD Compound, and Iron Creek Subdivision are all now in "SET" orders.
As of August 20, Highway 21 is closed from milepost 92 (Warm Springs Airstrip) to milepost 107 (Custer/Boise County Line), according to the Boise County Sheriff's Office. They report that there will be no exceptions to this closure, and an alternative route must be used.
Additionally, as of August 20, the Wapiti Fire has burned three structure at the Sawtooth Lodge. The lodge itself, and all historic cabins, are still standing, Sawtooth Lodge announced on Facebook.
On Aug. 13, the BNF officials expanded the area of closure which was issued in the Grandjean area as the Wapiti Fire continues to grow. The closure affects some trails accessed from the Sawtooth Wilderness and Road 524 into Grandjean.
Grandjean residents were evacuated Saturday, Aug. 3 by the Boise County Sheriff's Office, according to the U.S. Forest Service, and a closure order was issued for the Grandjean area.
Middle Fork Complex: The Nellie and Bulldog (Sept. 6 - 9:20 a.m.)
The Middle Fork Complex Fire was once three separate fires that pushed together into one fire. It is burning nine miles east of Garden Valley.
On Friday, Sept. 6, the fire collectively burned 57,836 acres and is 28% contained.
The Boise County Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday, Sept. 3 there are "NO" evacuation levels for the Middle Fork complex locations, and the Danskin Station area.
However, evacuations as of Tesduay remain in place for the following areas:
Level 3- Hanging Valley Subdivision
Level 2- Ten Ax Subdivision; Two Ravens Subdivision; Seven Peaks Subdivision
Level 1- Highway 21 residents milepost 82-85
On Thursday, August 22, Boise County Sheriff's Office announced that there will be a closure of Banks-Lowman Road, also known as Highway 17. The closure will begin at noon, and last several hours, said police. The closure will be from Danskin Station to Julie Creek. They are closing the road for fire operations.
As of August 22, there is a Level 1 "Get Ready" evacuation order for Southfork Road north of the Grimes Pass intersection in Garden Valley, said Boise County Sheriff's Office on Facebook.
On Tuesday, Aug. 20, the Boise County Sheriff's Office issued a level 3 "Go Now," evacuation notice for those in the Danskin area as the Nellie Fire continues to burn.
"Everyone on the north side of the Southfork of the Payette River needs to evacuate immediately," the sheriff's office stated. Authorities said firefighters and law enforcement would be going door to door to notify residents about the evacuation notice.
Chimney Fire (Sept. 5 - 1:20 p.m.)
The Chimney Fire is burning in the Sawtooth National Forest, near Deer Mountain. It has burned 3,669 acres, and is 0% contained.
There are closures due to the Chimney Fire. A full list of closures can be found at this link.
Vanity Fire (Sept. 5 - 12:30 p.m.)
The Salmon-Challis National Forest has announced that the Vanity Fire has resulted in some road closures, as the fire has burned 113 acres. As of Sept. 5, the Vanity Fire has caused the closure of National Forest Service Road #40008 Beaver Creek Road from Vanity Summit to Josephus Lake. The road will be closed starting Thursday, Sept. 5, and will remain closed until Sept. 30 at 12 a.m., unless otherwise noted.
Mineral Fire (Sept. 5 - 12 p.m.)
The fire has burned an estimated 19,000 acres and began on Sept. 2. This fire is located along the Snake River, south of Brownlee dam and north of Steck Park. The Bureau of Land Management has not reported any closures due to this fire.
Limepoint Fire (Sept. 3 - 12 p.m.)
The Limepoint Fire is north of Oxbow Dam in Adams County, Idaho. It was started by lightning on July 24 and is reported to be at 32,973 acres, with 93% containment.
Despite the inclement weather, fire officials reported on Sept. 3 that the fire did not grow any additional acreage and the containment has not changed.
A Red Flag Warning has been issued for the Limepoint Fire area for Sep. 2, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to midnight. The warning was issued because of a storm system moving in with the potential of a thunderstorm.
Cuprum remains at Level 1 "READY" evacuation level. Fire crews ask that you avoid the area for safety. Only residents and property owners are allowed in the area.
The forest closure for Payette National Forest remains in effect as by Aug. 23.
Flat Fire (Sept. 1 - 5 p.m.)
The Flat Fire is in Boise County about 1.5 miles from Pioneerville. As of Aug. 26, the fire is estimated at 32,242 acres and the fire is moving east, away from Pioneerville. No structures are threatened at this time. It is roughly 93% contained.
There is an area closure in place. The Summit Flat Road between Pioneerville and Coulter Summit, and FS Road 379 is closed for safety.
Bench Lake Fire (Sept. 1)
The Bench Lake fire is burning a few miles south of Stanley, and is about 2,595 acres. The fire, which officials believe was caused by humans, is now 90% contained.
On August 5, there was an update on trail and road closures in the area around Bench Lake.
The Sawtooth National Forest and Idaho Department of Lands announced that they will implement a Stage 1 burn restriction beginning on July 17.
A GoFundMe has been created to help support the Redfish Lake Lodge staff and affected families.
