UPDATE (August 26, 11:30 am): The Wapiti Fire has climbed to 68,124 acres as crews continue working to protect structures and communities with dozer and hand firelines as well as air resources.
Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 hosted a community meeting Sunday, August 25, at the Stanley Community Building in Stanley, ID. A recording of the meeting is available to view here.
Another community meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, at the fire station in Lowman at 6 pm where officials will update the public on the state of the Wapiti Fire and the fires burning in the Middle Fork Complex.
SH-21 remains closed between Lowman and Stanley (milepost 84 - 130) due to wildfire activity.
Fire activity could seen an uptick as cloud coverage in the area clears and humidity decreases.
For the latest evacuation information on the Wapiti Fire, please see the Custer County Sheriff’s Facebook page and the Boise County Sheriff’s Facebook page.
To sign up for Custer County CodeRED emergency notifications, text CUSTER to 99411 or enroll online.
UPDATE (August 23, 1:40 pm): 'GO' Evacuations have been ordered for Custer County residents in Stanley Zone 1 due to the spread of the now 35,631- acre Wapiti Fire, which is just 10% contained.
Along with the evacuations, the closure along SH-21 has been extended from Sourdough Lodge to Stanley (milepost 84 - 130). There is currently no public access from the highway to surrounding areas including Grandjean, Bull Trout, Cape Horn, Boundary Creek, or Seafoam.
Traffic to and from the Stanley area can use SH-75 as an alternate route in the meantime. Access to Stanley remains open.
The Bulldog and Nellie Fires burning in the Middle Fork Complex have also continued to grow. The Nellie Fire now measures 19,517 acres while the Bulldog Fire 4,986. The Middle Fork fires are currently 5% contained.
UPDATE: As of August 22nd 2024 (6:45 p.m.)
Both Highway 17 and Highway 21 are closed from the Wapiti Fire.
Highway 17 is closed from milepost 14 to Lowman, close to hot springs campground.
Highway 21 is closed from milepost 84 to Stanley.
UPDATE (August 22, 10:37 am): The Wapiti Fire has grown to 17,520 acres and recently reached a trigger point prompting a "Be Set" evacuation level for Cow Camp Ranches, Homestead Subdivision, Crooked Creek Subdivision, ITD Compound, and Iron Creek Subdivision in Custer County.
The "Be Set" evacuation level means residents should be prepared to evacuate the area at a moment's notice due to extreme fire danger in the area.
The spread of the fire has also prompted the indefinite closure of State Highway 21 from Warm Springs Creek to Stanley. The closure on the roadway originally ran between Boise and Lowman, but the fire growth has prompted an extension of the closure.
There is no public access to Grandjean at this time and traffic to Stanley will need to use State Highway 75 as an alternate route.
Nearby fires in the Middle Fork have seen continued growth, with the Nellie and Bulldog Fires now covering over 31,000 acres at just 5% containment. The Nellie Fire prompted a "Go" evacuation order on August 20.
RELATED | Nellie Fire triggers 'GO' evacuation order in Boise County
The growth of the fires burning in the Middle Fork Complex has prompted a level 1 evacuation order for Southfork Road north of the Grimes Pass intersection in Garden Valley.
UPDATE (August 21, 12:20 pm):
There will be Community meeting in Stanley tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the Stanley Community Center at 500 Eva Falls Avenue, Stanley, Idaho. The Wapiti Fire continues to grow with active fire behavior with group torching, long range spotting, and terrain driven runs. Yesterday the fire grew over 8,000 acres. Highway 21 remains closed from MP92 to MP107 from the Grandjean area to the Custer County line due to wildfire activity. This area starts at Forest Road 025RC (MP 92), which accesses Warm Springs Guard Station and air strip to the Custer County line MP107.
UPDATE (August 20, 12:47 pm): The Wapiti Fire has continued to spread today, jumping the ridge of the Sawtooths and burning in the Elk Creek and Stanley Lake Creek drainages.
Given the safety concerns posed by the wildfire, the Stanley Lake recreation complex has been closed, including connecting trails.
The legal order for the closure has been posted here.
The closure follows a highway closure also prompted by the spread of the flames on August 20.
RELATED | Wapiti Fire growth causes Highway 21 closure, here's what you need to know
UPDATE (August 19, 10:10 am): While the Wapiti and Middle Fork Fires have grown significantly over the weekend, the nearby Bull Trout Fire is nearly completely contained.
The Bull Trout Fire saw no growth over the weekend and remained at 92% containment.
Despite the lack of a Red Flag warning, critical fire conditions yesterday resulted in active fire behavior by the Wapiti Fire and fires burning in the Middle Fork Complex. Smoke from this fire will impact the Highway 21 corridor, the public is reminded to drive cautiously in the area.
The two major fires burning in the Middle Fork area are the 4,986-acre Bulldog Fire and the 19,517-acre Nellie Fire. The two Fires have seen continued growth in the area and are just 5% contained.
Closures, Restrictions, and Evacuations:
- Middle Fork Complex: The Boise County Sheriff's Office continues to maintain the Level 2 evacuation notice for residents on and near the Middlefork Road between Stump Ranch Road up to Tie Creek Campground. The Boise National Forest issued an area closure for the fire (Closure #0402-06-59) effective August 12, 2024. The purpose of this order is to protect public safety during the fires.
- Wapiti Fire: The evacuation order for Summer Homes and the Sawtooth Lodge remains in effect for the Wapiti Fire, as does the area closure issued by the Sawtooth and Boise National Forests (Closure #0402-05-94) effective August 12, 2024. This Order is for public and firefighter safety during fire suppression efforts of the Wapiti Fire.
- Bull Trout Fire: The Bull Trout Fire Area Closure (Closure #0402-05-93) remains in effect for the roads and trails within the perimeter of the fire. The Boise National Forest issued this order on August 12, 2024. It will be rescinded as soon as it is safe to do so.
UPDATE Sunday, Aug. 18: Most fires in the area saw increased activity and growth on Saturday as a result of the hot, dry, windy conditions.
The Wapiti fire has spread to just under 5,000 acres at 10% containment, while the Bulltrout fire is still at 271 acres and is 92% contained. The Middle Fork Complex Fires, which includes the Bulldog and Nellie Fires, has spread to over 15,000 acres and is 5% contained.
Due to the increased fire behavior, some structures near the Wapiti Summer Home area were impacted. Firefighters are currently assessing the impacts to these structures.
A community meeting to update on the Middle Fork Complex, Bull Trout, and Wapiti Fires will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18 at the Crouch Community Center.
UPDATE Thursday, Aug. 15: The Bulltrout Fire has seen very little change, remaining at 92% containment with no overnight growth as fire crews search for remaining heat within the fire perimeter.
The nearby Wapiti Fire has continued to spread slowly along the north side, now covering 3,646 acres with no estimated containment.
The Bulldog and Nellie Fires continue to burn in the Middle Fork Complex with 0% containment. The two fires have grown slightly, with the Bulldog Fire covering 2,713 acres and the Nellie Fire burning 5,595 acres.
UPDATE Wednesday, Aug. 14: Containment efforts have continued successfully for the 271-acre Bulltrout Fire, the neighboring Wapiti Fire and other fires in the Middle Fork Complex have continued to spread in the area.
The Bulltrout Fire is 92% contained, but the 3,104 acre Wapiti Fire has no estimated containment. The 5,116-acre Nellie Fire and 2,585-acre Bulldog Fire in the Middle Fork Complex are at 0% containment as well.
Currently, 388 fire personnel have been assigned to the fires burning in the Middle Fork Complex, with 18 crew members assigned to the near-contained Bulltrout Fire and 57 tending to the Wapiti Fire.
Crews are reminding the public that the Middlefork Road is closed at the Forest Service boundary just north of Lightning Creek for firefighter and public safety. Forest Service Road #555 is also closed at this time starting at the intersection with Highway 17 and running through to the Forest Service Road #579 intersection.
Crews are working on the fires burning in the Middle Fork Complex with a focus on protecting structures in the vicinity of Crouch.
Firefighters are continuing to patrol the area of the Bulltrout Fire to extinguish pockets of heat and increase containment, but falling trees have posed problems for crews as they work in the area.
The Wapiti Fire continues to burn in rugged high elevation terrain, but as conditions become more favorable, crews plan to conduct strategic ignition operations and use natural barriers to construct a fire line.
UPDATE: As of Monday, Aug. 12
There were several changes made on Monday to the closure orders near the Bulltrout and Wapiti Fires.
The Bulltrout Campground has reopened, but the Boise National Forest has modified or expanded other closures to address public and firefighter safety and respond to increased wildfire growth. Changes became effective on Monday.
A new order near the Wapiti Fire expands the previous closure area. The closure effects some trails accessed from the Sawtooth Wilderness and road 524 into Grandjean.
UPDATE: As of Sunday, Aug. 11
Bulltrout fire is 73% contained while the Wapiti fire is still 0% contained. Both fires are covering a combined 2,700 acres of burned area.
A Community meeting is being held for both the Wapiti and Bulltrout fires. The meeting starts at 7 P.M. in Garden Valley. An in-person update on current fire activity and planned actions will be provided at the Community Meeting. It will be held at the Crouch Community Center, 1022 Old Crouch Road
Bulltrout: Crews will keep patrolling the fire area, repairing damage from suppression efforts, and putting out remaining hot spots on the fire’s south side.
Wapiti: Firefighters are actively protecting structures in the Summer Homes area by maintaining defensible space and using water pumps and sprinklers.
UPADATE: As of August 10th 2024
The Wapiti and Bulltrout fires have reached over 2700 acres combined. The Wapiti fire is just 1705 acres, with the Bulltrout being 1056 acres. The containment is 0% for Wapiti and 74% for Bulltrout.
Bulltrout: Crews will keep patrolling the fire zone, fixing areas impacted by suppression efforts, and putting out remaining hot spots within the fire
Wapiti: Crews finished controlled burns along the 525 road to limit fire spread to the west. Firefighters are protecting structures in the Summer Homes area with defensible space, water pumps, and sprinklers.
The Wapiti and Bulltrout fires are both burning over 1900 acres just southeast of Boise. The Bulltrout fire is just under 270 acres with 74% containment, while the Wapiti fire is 1700 acres with 0% containment. Both fires started on July 24th 2024 due to a lightning storm. A suppression strategy is being implemented to combat these fires.
The top priority is keeping firefighters and the public safe while protecting important assets. Resources are ready for quick response, and aircraft will be available to assist ground crews with any new fires.
Wapiti Fire: Firefighting crews are using the best tactics for the fuel and terrain to protect private property. The fire is most active in the late afternoon and evening due to changing wind directions. Crews will keep working on firing operations and other strategies today to protect nearby assets and ensure safety for both firefighters and the public.
Bulltrout Fire: The Bulltrout Fire is currently in patrol status. Firefighters are still mopping up and fixing any damage caused by suppression efforts.
The Boise and Sawtooth National Forests have closed roads, trails, and land around the Wapiti Fire to ensure public safety and aid fire suppression. This closure includes several National Forest roads, like NFS Grandjean Road #524 and the Warm Springs Air Strip.
