Area and Road Closures -- Modified

Big Game Hunting Unit 28: Effective at 12:01 am Friday, September 15, a portion of Unit 28 will re-open to public access. This area is located in the southern end of Unit 28, described as: The Panther Creek Road, #055, from Morgan Creek Summit to the Silver Creek Road turnoff, and the Silver Creek Road, #108, including all areas south and west of these roads in Unit 28. The remainder of Unit 28 remains closed to public access due to the hazardous conditions created by the Clear Creek Fire. On BLM lands within Unit 28, non-motorized access (including hiking, horseback riding and bicycling) is allowed.

The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness: All wilderness lands, trails and airstrips are open except for the portion of the wilderness lying in Hunting Unit 28. The Salmon River and the Middle Fork of the Salmon are open. Vehicle access to the eastern part of the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness is unavailable to the Yellowjacket, Big Horn Crags and Clear Creek trails because roads entering Unit 28 in these areas are still closed. Forest users can now access the Meyers Cove and Camas Creek areas.

Morgan Creek Road (FS #055) is open to the junction of the Silver Creek Road on the Panther Creek side.

Safety Reminder: As more areas of the Forest are re-opened to public access, forest users should be cautious. Many of the fires are still active and as daytime temperatures rise, the vegetation starts to dry. Fires can rekindle. Also, remember that burned trees and limbs can fall without warning; cavities left where tree stumps and roots have burned out are a hazard for hikers and pack stock; rocks and logs may roll down slopes where anchoring vegetation has been burned away; and landslides and flash floods are possible where loss of vegetation has exposed unstable soils.

Media representatives are required to contact the Salmon-Challis Fire Information Office

at 208-756-5283 for escorts into the fire area.

Clear Creek Complex (includes the Clear Creek and Marlin Springs fires)

Acreage: 206,379 acres Location: 12 miles west of Salmon

Percentage Contained: 85% for Clear Creek Fire; 95% for Marlin Springs

Estimated Date of Full Containment: September 30

Resources: 1493 people, 15 helicopters, 14 engines, 6 dozers Injuries: 1

Current Situation: The Marlin Springs Fire showed minimal fire activity yesterday. Mop-up and gridding is 95 percent complete on the outside edge of the fire.

Fire activity increased significantly yesterday on the Clear Creek Fire due to the warming and drying trend. The high-pressure ridge causing this warming trend is expected to remain in the area for the next several days. Several pockets of heavy fuel continued to burnout with occasional torching and short range spotting occurring. Two spot fires were found outside the fire line on the north east side of the fire. They were contained by helitack crews that rappelled from helicopters. Rehabilitation work on dozer lines in the Moccasin and Mackinaw Creek areas is progressing. Mop-up around 85 percent of the perimeter is complete.

Several Hotshot crews and Marine Companies are spike camped out at six different locations throughout both the Marlin Springs and Clear Creek fires. These spike camps are used to limit travel time and to maximize the productivity of the resources.

Plans for today include much of the same as yesterday -- ground personnel supported by helicopters providing water bucket drops as required. Mop and patrols will continue with fire suppression rehabilitation being accomplished as prioritized by the Forest.

Recent injuries include an eye laceration and a sprained wrist.

A caution for pilots: Extensive air operations involving helicopters continue. Contact FAA for information about the Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) for this area.

Fire Restrictions

Stage I fire restrictions are in effect on the Salmon-Challis National Forest and Bureau of Land Management-administered lands in Lemhi and Custer counties:

Fires are permitted only in developed areas such as campgrounds and picnic sites that have constructed fire rings. Propane or LPG fueled stoves are permitted. Sheepherder stoves are prohibited. People floating the Salmon and Middle Fork Rivers under permit may have fires in metal fire pans.

Smoking is prohibited except within enclosed vehicles or buildings, in developed recreation sites, or in an area three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all burnable material.

Other Important Information

People who have suffered residential losses (such as smoke damage) due to the wildfires this summer may register with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Call toll-free 1-800-462-9029 (or for speech-impaired people, 1-800-462-7545). Recovery specialists take registrations from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM (MDT) seven days a week.

The Small Business Administration has opened a temporary field office in the Salmon City office building. Any local business is eligible to apply for a working capital loan for economic injury.

For information on hunting permits, contact Idaho Fish and Game at 208-756-2271.

For more fire information call (208) 756-5283 or log on to the Salmon-Challis National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/fire2000 (click the refresh button to be sure you have the most recent version).