NEWS RELEASE

Salmon Interagency Dispatch Upper Columbia - Salmon Clearwater District BLM Salmon - Challis National Forest Rural Route 2, Box 600 Salmon, Idaho 83467

 

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Salmon-Challis Forest Closes Hunting Units 21, 21A and 28

Salmon-Challis National Forest Supervisor George Matejko signed an order today closing the portions of the Forest within big-game hunting units 21, 21A and 28 to all uses because of several large fires burning in or near the units and extreme fire conditions. The order, combined with previous orders, closes all of the North Fork Ranger District, most of the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District, and a portion of the Challis Ranger District.  The order will take effect at 12:01 AM Monday, August 28, 2000.

Most of Unit 28 was previously closed by an earlier order because of the Clear Creek Fire, which has burned more than 175,000 acres west of Salmon, Idaho. The Marlin Springs, Packer and Filly Fires and portions of the Full Circle and Sister fires are burning in Unit 21. The extreme burning conditions of these and other nearby fires, the long dry fire season and the threat of additional fire starts have combined to make the additional closure necessary. The closures will remain in effect until the danger from the wildfires is over.

“We realize these closures will cause problems for Forest users, particularly with the upcoming hunting season,” Matejko said, “but we are faced with extreme fire conditions, thousands of acres of wildfire and erratic fire behavior.  We are closing the areas for public safety - both from hazardous wildfire conditions and fire fighting activities.”  Matejko also said the closure would reduce the chances of human - caused fires.

To emphasize the extreme fire behavior Matejko pointed to the blow-up of the Shellrock Fire that ripped though the Flying B Ranch and Bernard Guard Station on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River on August 18, two days after Forest Supervisors had closed the Middle Fork and the rest of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. In that firestorm, winds estimated at 80 to 100 m.p.h. up-rooted trees, tore roofs off several buildings and twisted and buckled a suspension bridge across the Middle Fork. About 18 people were forced to use safety zones in a green hay field and in the river to escape the fire. A cabin and a barn were burned. Luckily no lives were lost.  “We can’t risk letting something like that happen again,” Matejko said.

The activities prohibited include hunting, fishing, hiking, driving, and all other activities that require entrance to the closed areas. There are some exceptions to the closure including: persons with a specific permit, federal, state and local law enforcement officers and fire fighting forces. Owners of land within the closure area are permitted to travel to and from their property.

The Idaho Fish and Game department is cooperating with the Forest Service on these closures, according to Commissioner John Burns.  “We’ll support what the land management agency decides is necessary in these fire situations,” he said.  For hunters who have big game tags for the closed areas the Fish and Game will offer three options. The tags can be returned for a refund, or exchanged for a similar tag for an area that is not affected by the closure (control hunting tags could be exchanged for a general hunt tags). Tags can also be exchanged for the same tag next year if the same hunt is held next year.