Wapiti Fire

Photo Credit: Brian Wamack (Mechanic), Stanley Helibase (Taken on 9/1/2024)

Published Friday, September 20, 2024, 0930 hours PT

The WAPITI FIRE was reported by Ranger Roger Lockwood who was at the Jackson Peak Fire Lookout while on duty on July 24, 2024, and Fire Officials officially stated it was sparked by lightning, where it originated in the Grandjean area and was said to be burning between Lowman and Stanley, Idaho. (USA).

As of the last IMT’s last operational fire update on Thursday, September 19, 2024, (Great Basin Complex IMT 7), the wildfire has burned about 125,472 acres and was listed at 72% contained. The command has been transferred to the Great Basin Complex IMT Team 4. They are continuing with the coordination of fire suppression, repair operations, and community outreach.

About 621 total personnel were listed as still being assigned to this incident.

Per the Wapiti Fire Information 2024 Facebook Page

“As operations wind down, incident managers remain dedicated to repairing areas affected by the fire-suppression efforts on the Wapiti Fire. This includes repairing fences, helipad areas, fire lines, staging areas, and roads heavily damaged by firefighting efforts. To prevent these areas from becoming problematic for nearby residents, repair work aims to minimize unintended disturbances caused by suppression activities. Experts specializing in various fields such as archeology, hydrology, wildlife, fisheries, soils/vegetation, and timber, often called resource advisors by operation staff, are assisting in the planning and approval of repair activities.

Branch IV West Side: Yesterday, a reconnaissance flight spotted four significant and one minor debris flows blocking the Grandjean access road. Today, a front loader cleared a path through the first debris field, allowing crews to assess the extent of the subsequent slides. The Boise National Forest’s road crew and engineers are now planning debris removal and road repair operations.

Crews are currently removing structure protection equipment from all communities along Highway 21. In Lowman, approximately 90 water pumps and six miles of hose were backhauled that were laid out for fire suppression. This equipment will be transported back to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, where it will be cleaned, dried, and stored until the next incident where it is needed.

Branch VI East Side: A falling module, along with heavy equipment operators, are working along Stanley Lake Road to remove fire-weakened trees and make repairs to campground and recreation areas. These activities are crucial to visitor safety as the Forest Service considers reopening the area.

Weather, Fuels, and Fire Behavior: The recent precipitation event brought up to ¾ inch of rain to areas of the fire. Over the next few days, conditions will become warmer and drier, but no critical fire weather is expected.

The main fuel type on the fire is heavy timber, including species like; lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and spruce in the high elevations. Even weeks after active burning and despite rainfall, large timber species retain heat. Most of the current heat sources are within these dense fuels. Crews are actively locating and extinguishing these hot spots to prevent further fire spread.

Evacuations:

Evacuation status for Stanley Zone 1 has changed from SET to READY. Stanley Zones 2-5 and Kasino are no longer in an evacuation status.

Evacuation status for Boise County on the Loman side of the Wapiti Fire has been downgraded to READY (Level 1) in all zones.

For evacuation information on the Wapiti Fire, please see the Custer County Sheriff’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/…/Custer-County-Sheriff-Idaho…/ and the Boise County Sheriff’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/boisecountysheriff/.

To sign up for Custer County CodeRED emergency notifications, text CUSTER to 99411 or enroll online at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/BF28E45537FF

To sign up for Boise County Alert Sense emergency notification enroll online at https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/publicUser.aspx…

Closures and Fire Restrictions:

The Middle Fork Complex Fire Closure Order is amended to provide consistency with the Wapiti Fire closure. This amended order, Forest Order #0402-06-64, closes the 582 and 563 roads, as well as the 579 road from its junction with 563 eastward to the junction with Highway 21. More information can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices

State Highway 21 remains closed from MP84 (northeast of Lowman) to MP126 (Stanley Lake turn off) until 8:00am Friday, September 20th.

A Wapiti Fire Area Closure / Forest Order: 0414-04-151 for portions of the Boise, Sawtooth, and Salmon-Challis National Forests can be found at this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sawtooth/alerts-notices

Boise National Forest Stage 1 Fire Restrictions / Forest Order: 0402-00-63 can be found at this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices

Sawtooth National Forest Stage 1 Fire Restrictions / Forest Order 0414-00-044 can be found at this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sawtooth/alerts-notices

Fire restrictions on federal, state, and private lands may be found at this site: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire…/fire-restrictions-finder/

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Wapiti Fire. Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Map Credit | Wapiti Fire Information 2024

Incident Cooperators are an integral key to success when so many roles are being integrated into one clear mission with different objectives. We’d like to recognize some of those folks who worked on this incident. Information is gleaned from various sources. If we missed you, sorry!

  • USFS – Boise National Forest
  • Wapiti Fire Information (PIOs)
  • Great Basin CIIMT Teams 7 and 4
  • Stanley Helibase
  • San Carlos Camp Crew (AZ) – consists of San Carlos and White Mountain Apache Tribes
  • ID DOT
  • USFS – Salmon-Challis National Forest
  • Rio Rico Fire Protection District (AZ)
  • Resources from the U.S. Virgin Islands, New Hampshire, Alaska, and Australia
  • Diamond Mountain Interagency Hotshots (Susanville, CA)
  • Emergency Responders Health Center
  • Blaine County Sheriff Idaho
  • Michael Fuller, Deputy District Ranger / SNRA
  • Custer County Sheriff-Idaho
  • Central Idaho Mountain Weather
  • Stanely Ranger Station
  • 10 Tanker Air Carrier

Through the Eyes of Social Media, is the view of those posting about this incident and what they see, and bare witness to.

“Really a shame to hear about the [fire], this is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to up at Stanley Lake.” – Local Meteorologist

“GOES West showing extreme fire behavior on the #NellieFire and the #WapitiFire in Idaho. Smoke is being ingested into thunderstorms forming to the north of the fires. Some of this smoke may briefly clip NE Washington tonight, but will remain elevated.” – Local Meteorologist (8/23/2024)

“EAM ACTIVATION: Great Basin, Team 4, CIMT has been ordered for the Wapiti fire. Date time needed, 9/19/24 @ 1000, Stanley, ID.” – Great Basin CC (9/17/2024)

#WapitiFire #IDwildfires2024

(c) 2024 NW Fire Blog