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NEWS RELEASE |
Salmon
Interagency Dispatch
 Upper
Columbia - Salmon Clearwater District BLM
Salmon
- Challis National Forest
Rural Route 2, Box 600 Salmon, Idaho 83467 |
For immediate release
Contact: Salmon
Fire Information Center (208) 756-5283
Fire and Closure Update – 18 August 2000, 8:00 AM
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Tonight (18 August)
at 7:00 PM, Community Center in Stanley.
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Area /Road Closures and Restrictions
Frank
Church-River of No Return Wilderness: The entire wilderness,
including the Main Salmon River and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River,
is closed. (The Main Salmon River is closed from Cache Bar to Carey
Creek). All trails and all Forest Service landing strips are closed;
private landing strips are not affected by this closure. River permit
holders should contact the North Fork Ranger District to obtain a permit
for the same date next year.
This
closure is in effect until the fire situation changes with season-ending
weather event. This could occur as early as September or as late as October.
It is prompted by safety concerns such as extreme fire behavior (300-400
foot flame lengths), very limited access, debris on trails, and thick smoke
that would complicate search-and-rescue operations.
§Highway
93: The highway is now open. Visibility is limited.
Speed limit is 45 mph. The highway may be closed any time fire activity
makes travel unsafe. Motorist are advised to call toll-free 800-226-ROAD
(7623) for current status.
§Yankee Fork Road (FS #013): The road running north from Sunbeam at Highway 75 closed. The closure will include most of the Custer Motorway to the Mill Creek Campground, about 14 miles outside of Challis (Forest Roads # 013 and 070). The Mill Creek campground will remain open.
§Forest Road #172: The road is closed between the Dredge and Loon Creek Guard Station. (This road begins at the Yankee Fork Dredge, travels up the Johnson Creek drainage to Loon Creek summit, and into the Loon Creek drainage.) Call the Challis Ranger District at 208-879-4321 for current road closure information.
§Morse
Creek Road (FS #094) is closed.
§No open fires are permitted on BLM lands, except Shoup, Morgan Bar, and Cottonwood Campgrounds.
§Custer
Historical Park: Closed due to proximity
to the Rankin Creek Fire.
Fires
Fire activity in Hughes Creek is in Montana, not Idaho.Media representatives are required to contact Salmon Fire Information at 1-208-756-5283 to arrange for escorts into fire areas. Media representatives must bring their own boots for fireline visits. Boots must be leather, lace-up type, 8 inches in height.
Clear Creek Fire
Percentage
Contained: 30%
Estimated Date of Full Containment: Unknown
Current
Situation: Extreme fire behavior was observed on the northwest perimeter
(in the wilderness) and the northeast perimeter near the Girl Scout camp,
where structure protection is in place. Poor visibility is hindering
helicopter operations. Contingency lines built as a precaution to
protect Salmon, and the town’s watershed have been improved. More
burnout operations are planned for today along the Panther Creek Road.
High
winds are expected tomorrow.
Resources on the Fire: 1516 people, 14 helicopters, 36 engines, 39 dozers.
Rankin Creek Fire
Percentage
Contained: 50%
Estimated Date of Full Containment: Unknown
Resources: 556 people, 16 engines, 3 dozers, 2 helicopters. The Challis and Stanley Volunteer Fire
Departments are cooperating agencies.
Location:
25 air miles southwest of Challis
Current
Situation: Yesterday runs occurred on the north and east flanks.
Trees torched and spotting was observed. Heavy fuels are burning
actively. The fire is burning rapidly toward the Sawmill Creek drainage
on the north. Spot fires above Jerry’s Creek are running to the northeast
with torching and spotting.
Morse Fire
Resources: 139 people, 2 engines.
Current
Situation: The fire is creeping downhill into Tater Creek.
Heavy smoke prevented full assessment.
Wilderness Fires
Resources on Fire: 21 people. Injuries: None
Current Situation: Twenty-eight fires are burning in the Salmon-Challis NF portion of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. West of Middle Fork Peak, about 8 fires are burning in a north-south alignment about 10 miles in length, starting at Cave Creek on the south. Fires continue to grow because of winds, steep slopes, and low humidity.
Structure protection is in place at Salmon River Lodge and Gattin Ranch, and a burnout has been completed at
Salmon River Lodge. Today a burnout is planned for Mormon Ranch and Bernard Guard Station.
A wilderness fire team assumed management of the fire yesterday.
Other
Important Information:
For
detailed information about the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, call 208-879-4101.
For
detailed information on the Main Salmon River, call 208-865-2700 during
weekday office hours.
For information on hunting permits in the fire area, contact Idaho Fish and Game at 208-756-2271.
Fire
maps are available at the Salmon-Challis National Forest office on Highway
93 south of Salmon. For additional fire information please call:
208-756-5283 or log on to the Salmon-Challis National Forest website at
www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/fire2000.
Common
Sense Measures to Protect Your Health in a Smoky Environment:
Stay
inside.
Fire
Prevention:
Fire Facts:
Yesterday
the total number of people involved in firefighting efforts on the Salmon-Challis
National Forest was 2,140. This includes 520 Marines and 137 National
Guard personnel. Six camp crews are also involved. There are
18 helicopters, 61 engines, 18 dozers, and 18 water tenders working fires
on the Forest.