UPDATE: ( As of October 17, 2 p.m.): The Wapiti Fire has grown to over 129,000 acres, but has also increased to 90% containment. Roughly 40 personnel are still working to fight the flames.
Thursday is expected to be cloudy with rain and snow, with fire activity likely slowing with the passing storms. Crews will be burning slash piles near Stanley Lake on Thursday to continue clean up from suppression and rehab activities.
UPDATE: ( As of October 10, 1:30 p.m.): The Wapiti Fire is now 85% contained. Crews are removing large wood material from residential areas close to the suppression efforts.
UPDATE: ( As of Oct. 7, 10:30 a.m.): Great Basin IMT 3 will be transitioning command of the Wapiti Fire back to the local unit for management at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Smoke was increasing in areas of the Wapiti Fire due to lighter winds yesterday, with the gusts around 10-15 mph. Crews with engines on hand will be continuing to help containment lines. In Grandjean task forces are removing debris and trees close and in the area of the Wapiti Fire.
Evacuation status for the Stanley Zone 1 is currently at READY.
UPDATE: (As of Oct. 6, 10 a.m.): The Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team #3 took command of the Wapiti Fire on Saturday evening.
Fire crews and engines were spread throughout the fire area on Saturday to monitor and patrol fire activity and implement suppression actions if needed, but minimal fire behavior was observed on Saturday afternoon.
Crews will be working in several areas on Sunday, including along the Highway 21 corridor to remove debris. The public is asked to be cautious while traveling along the highway on Sunday.
UPDATE: (As of Oct. 5, 9:30 a.m.): Fire activity on the Wapiti Fire was minimal on Friday, despite the strong winds, with gusts between 20 and 40 mph recorded over the area. Saturday is expected to be cooler and the relative humidity will rise.
The fire continued to grow west, and firefighters plan to return to continue working directly along the fire perimeter on Saturday. Firefighters will also continue suppression repair work near Stanley Lake. They are nearly complete with repair, having completed 27.9 miles of dozer line and 21.3 miles of handling.
The fire perimeter right now measures at 324 miles.
The Wapiti Fire area closure has been reduced on the southern end, excluding the Lowman, Ten Ax, Two Raven, and Sourdough communities. The closure still covers portions of the Sawtooth, Boise, and Salmon-Challis National Forests. Details on current closures can be found on the Wapiti Fire Information 2024 Facebook page.
UPDATE: (As of Oct. 4, 10:30 a.m.): A Red Flag Warning is in effect in the area of the Wapiti Fire from noon to 10 p.m. on Friday due to strong gusty winds and low relative humidity. Increased fire activity is likely.
The wind will likely last through Friday evening and into Saturday morning — these winds are expected to be strong enough to limit flights by all aircraft on Friday.
UPDATE: (As of Oct. 3, 10 a.m.): The south side of the Wapiti Fire, near Big Meadows, was much more active on Wednesday than it has been recently. The fire is burning through the vegetation and causing an increase in smoke.
Crews continue to work areas of heat around Chapman Creek where hotspots were active. Engines are also patrolling along Highway 21, ready to respond as needed.
Thursday is expected to be warm and dry with lighter winds and on Friday there is a Fire Weather Watch with a strong likelihood of becoming a Red Flag Warning.
UPDATE: (As of Oct. 2, 12 p.m.): The Wapiti Fire is still hovering just above 125,000 acres, and has reached 78% containment. More than 300 personnel are still working to fight the flames, with efforts on Wednesday focusing on securing the line around the west portion of the fire.
Collections of firewood within the closure areas have been prohibited and anyone with a firewood collection in open areas must have a valid firewood permit.
The Wapiti Fire area closure covers portions of the Sawtooth, Boise, and Salmon-Challis National Forests. Stanley Zone 1 is still a Level 1 READY status. For details, visit inciweb.com.
UPDATE: (As of Oct. 1): Highway 21 around mile marker 126 will temporarily close around 11 a.m. on Tuesday to allow removal of heavy equipment.
The North part of the Wapiti Fire around Cape Horn had containment added by crews. Firefighters worked on securing most of the spots near Iron Creek yesterday. With progress moving quickly, it has allowed crews to move from low areas of fire activity, to assist with suppression and repair.
Stanley Zone 1 is still currently at Level 1 "READY." The Stanley Zones 2-5 and Kasino are no longer in an evacuation status.
UPDATE: (As of Sept. 30): The collecting of firewood in the closure areas are being prohibited. The Wapiti Fire's eastern portion was less active yesterday and due to wind conditions should help lessen the spread of that portion. Crews are patrolling the Highway 21 as well as hot spots around Bull Trout Lake, Copper Mountain, and Cape Horn.
Evacuations: Stanley Zone 1 is currently at READY. Stanely Zones 2 -5 and Kasino are no longer in an evacuation status.
UPDATE: (Sept.29, 11:45 a.m.): On Saturday, new hot spots emerged around the Wapiti Fire. Helicopters dropped about 116,000 gallons of water but were grounded in the afternoon due to winds. Crews addressed all concerns and will continue working today.
In addition to firefighting, crews worked on road repairs, removed hazard trees, and assessed areas needing attention. Smoke from hot spots was visible from Highway 21, especially near Park Creek Overlook, where gusty winds pushed surface fires through grasses until they reached the old Elk Fire scar, which helped limit spread.
Helicopters also worked to control pockets of unburned vegetation near Iron Creek. Incident Commander Steve Shaw noted the critical fire weather forecast for Sunday and emphasized that they will plan and respond accordingly.
Stanley Zone 1 is currently under a READY evacuation status. Zones 2 to 5 and Kasino are no longer under evacuation orders. Please sign up for Custer County CodeRED emergency notifications.
UPDATE (Sept. 25, 2:00 p.m.): There was a slight increase in the Wapiti fire's activity on Tuesday, according to fire officials. Smoke may become more visible over the next several days due to dry, windy conditions.
Crews will be spread out along the fire perimeter on Wednesday to quickly respond to any new increases in fire activity.
UPDATE (Sept. 23, 1:00 p.m.): Fire ffficials say the fire activity slightly increased on Sunday, because of clear skies and warm temperatures. They say light winds caused dust and ash to rise several hundred feet into the air.
Near Stanley Lake and Iron Creek, fire crews continue to cut down trees that post hazards to roads and trails.
Highway 21 is now open, but traffic control measures could increase during the week, as ITD continues replacing damaged guardrails and signs.
There are still closures in portions of the Sawtooth, Boise and Salmon National Forests. Those closures can be viewed online.
Update: (Sept. 21st 9:30 a.m.)
The Wapiti Fire is currently 72% contained and has burned over 125,476 acres. Firefighters are working on repairing fire suppression efforts. Smoke may be visible in areas with smoldering timber, and flames could appear from unburned pockets within the fire's perimeter. They are actively addressing all parts of the fire to prevent further spread.
Update: (Sept. 19, 8:01 p.m.): Closure changes specific to the Boise National Forest include opening roads 582, 563, and 579 that now allow access to lower Bear Valley Creek area, which is also now open.
As a reminder, the lands west of 582 and 563 are still closed due to the Middle Fork Complex, even with the roads reopening. The closure change goes into effect on Sept. 20 at 8 a.m.
Update: (Sept. 19, 10:45 a.m.): The Wapiti Fire still sits at roughly 125,000 acres, but has reached 72% completion. 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.
On Wednesday, a reconnaissance flight spotted four significant and one minor debris flows blocking the Grandjean access road. A front loader cleared a path through the first debris field on Thursday morning, allowing crews to assess the extent of the subsequent slides.
Crews are currently removing structure protection equipment out of all communities along Highway 21.
Over the next few days, conditions will become warmer and drier, but no critical fire weather is expected.
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.
Update: (Sept. 18, 11:55 a.m.): The Wapiti Fire is still roughly 125,000 acres, but has reached 71% completion, as of Wednesday morning.
The Idaho Transportation Department plans to reopen State Highway 21 between Lowman and Stanley at 8 a.m. on Friday. Traffic will be managed with a pilot car or flagging operation to safely guide vehicles through areas where crews are working on repairs.
ITD crews continue to work alongside emergency contractors to address the significant damage caused by the Wapiti Fire. This work includes clearing ditches, hauling materials to rebuild eroded hillsides, removing hundreds of hazardous trees, and replacing damaged guardrail. Once completed, steel guardrails that meet new modern standards will replace the burnt wooden rails.
The recent rain in the area has helped suppress the fires but has also caused slides and boulders to fall onto the highway. Due to the evolving conditions created by the wildfire, ITD advises drivers to always check 511.idaho.govbefore heading out.
Update: (Sept. 16): Over the weekend, containment increased on the Wapiti Fire over which is now sized at 125,459 acres with 53% containment. Crews are using a mixed strategy of containment and confinement to ensure the fire essentially stays where it's at.
Update: (Sept. 15): The Wapiti Fire has grown over 125,000 acres since Aug. 1. This map shows the start of the Wapiti Fire just in the blue area. The spread has made 849 personnel battle this fire to get 29% containment.
The rain this past week has slowed down the fire, reduced smoke, and improved air quality for nearby communities. However, Highway 21 will remain closed over the weekend due to ongoing fire suppression hazards.
Update: (Sept. 14): The Wapiti Fire only grew a bit over Friday and Saturday morning, with just reaching over 125,448 acres of burned area. The containment is just 13%, with over 981 workers on scene.
State Highway 21 is still being closed between Lowman to Stanley to Stanley Lake turnoff due to fire activity. The rain and cooler temperatures have given some relief of fire activity, but crews continue to focus on protecting values at risk along the Highway 21. Fire managers expect to halt night operations on Sunday evening in anticipation of the forecasted rain.
UPDATE (Sept. 13, 11:00 a.m.): Cooler weather and recent rains have helped crews fighting the massive Wapiti Fire.
More than 1,100 personnel are assigned to the effort, which includes proactive structure protection in the Lowman area.
State Highway 21 remains closed east of Lowman to Stanley from MP84 (Sourdough Lodge) to MP126 (Stanley Lake turnoff) due to wildfire activity and potential hazards caused by rainfall within the burn area.
UPDATE (Sept. 12, 4 p.m.): State Highway 21 remains closed as the Wapiti Fire continues to burn between Lowman and Stanley. Despite ongoing fire activity, the Idaho Transportation Department has completed a damage assessment of the area — emergency contracts have been established, and repair efforts are actively underway.
Crews are currently removing hazard trees along the highway, and assessments indicate that approximately 49 road signs and several miles of guardrail will need to be replaced in Boise County. The guardrail is crucial, given the steep slopes along this mountainous highway.
"We are taking a proactive approach to this situation, and as long as it is safe to do so, we will continue our work in the area," Field Operations Manager Eric Copeland said. "Completing the damage assessment was a critical first step, allowing us to secure the necessary resources and determine what needs to be done to safely reopen the highway when the time comes."
Throughout the duration of this fire, ITD crews will continue to conduct twice-daily patrols using loaders to clear burnt trees, rocks, and debris from the highway, ensuring that fire crews and emergency responders can safely access the affected areas.
UPDATE (Sept. 12, 10 a.m): The Wapiti Fire is still roughly 125,000 acres and remains at 12% containment.
Wednesday brought high winds to all areas of the fire ahead of precipitation, but minimal fire activity was observed ahead of the storm front.
Thursday is expected to bring a steady rain, and while this will not fully suppress the fire, it will moderate fire behavior.
State Highway 21 is still closed east of Lowman to Stanley from MP84 to MP126 due to wildfire activity and potential hazards caused by rainfall within the burn area. Highway 75 remains open.
UPDATE (Sept. 11, 2:30 p.m): The Idaho Transportation department (ITD) has completed a damage assessment for the area near the Wapiti Fire, despite ongoing fire activity.
ITD says that 49 road signs, and "several miles" of guardrail will need to be replaced in Boise County.
ITD adds that their crews are currently removing hazardous trees along the roadway. Twice a day, they plan to use loaders to clear burnt trees, rocks and debris from the highway, so emergency responders can access affected areas.
The Department says emergency contracts have been established and repair efforts are underway.
State Highway 21 remains closed between Stanley and east of Lowman.
UPDATE (Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m.): The Wapiti fire has grown to roughly 125,000 acres and remains 12% contained.
The next few days are expected to bring a strong weather system through the area, with a Red Flag Warning in place from noon till 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
Ahead of the storm, winds may gust up to 60mph which could cause an increase in fire behavior. The next storm system will arrive around 4 p.m., causing an acute drop in temperatures, with increasing thunderstorms, and possible hail and rain up to ¾ of an inch.
State Highway 21 remains closed east of Lowman to Stanley from MP84 to MP126 due to wildfire activity. Highway 75 remains open.
UPDATE (Sept. 10, 10 a.m.): The Wapiti Fire has spread to over 122,000 acres and is still 12% contained.
Almost 1,500 personnel are working to fight the fire, focusing on protecting any structures and infrastructure.
The Custer County Sherriff made a slight reduction in the road closure, with State Highway 21 remaining closed east of Lowman to Stanley from MP84 to MP126 due to wildfire activity. Highway 75 remains open.
Evacuations remain in place for Boise and Custer Counties and you can sign up for CodeRed alerts here.
UPDATE (Sept. 9):
The Wapiti Fire has grown to 120,354 acres and is now 12% contained.
Evacuations remain in place for Boise and Custer Counties and you can sign up for CodeRed alerts here.
UPDATE (Sept. 8): The Wapiti Fire has grown to over 114,000 acres of burned area with still just 12% containment.
The Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 7 is hosting a meeting today at 6:00 p.m. at Lowman Fire Station. The team will also attempt to live stream via Wapiti Fire Information Facebook page.
Click herefor the livestream
Due to the high winds and thunderstorms fire activity is picking up for the crews of the Wapiti Fire. Current situation is working the fire lines and working towards keeping communities safe.
UPDATE (Sept. 6): The Wapiti Fire has grown to over 113,280 acres of burned area. The containment percentage has reached 12% with over 1500 total personnel working the blaze.
The threat to structures and communities have reduced from the crews fighting the fire. As crews continue to control fire lines, and improve mop ups, in certain areas other crews are focusing to reduce the intensity of the spread due to weather and high winds.
The main focus for all crews in the Wapiti Fire is Highway 21 corridor on the west side, as the fire is the main risk of communities and homes.
Closures: Highway 21 is still closed from MP84 to MP130 for public and firefighter safety
UPDATE (Sept. 5, 10:00 p.m.) The fire has burned 112,321 acres and is 12% contained.
According to the Custer County Sheriff, the roadblock is expected to come down tomorrow, Sept. 6.
UPDATE (Sept. 5, 2:00 p.m.) Evacuation orders have been downgraded in Stanley. The Custer County Sheriff's Office says residents in Zone 1 are now in "SET" status. Zones 2, 3, 4, 5 and Casino are now in "READY" status.
Passes for re-entry to the area will be available on Saturday by contacting the Sheriff's Office.
The Wapiti Fire is now 112,321 acres in size, and 8% contained.
State Highway 21 remains closed from Stanley to east of Lowman.
A community meeting will be held at the Stanley Community Building on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. It will also be streamed on Facebook.
UPDATE (Sept. 4, 3:00 p.m.) The Wapiti Fire is 110,425 acres and 4% contained.
A total of 1,513 are working to control the blaze. Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 says Tuesday thunderstorms increased fire activity. On Wednesday, air resources will be able to support firefighters, because of clearer air over the fire.
A community meeting will be held at the Stanley Community Building on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. It will also be streamed on Facebook.
On Thursday at 10:00 a.m., all residences in evacuation zone 1 will be downgraded to "SET" status. All residents are required to obtain a pass from the Emergency Operation Office behind City Hall from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Residents will need to provide identification and vehicle information. At 10:00 a.m., those with passes will be allowed to proceed to your residence.
UPDATE (Sept. 3, 3:30 p.m.) Custer County's Wapiti Fire is now 108,000 acres in size, with 2% containment.
According to Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1, all firelines held on Monday, and at-risk values are secure at this time.
On Tuesday, the team says a low-pressure system will create challenging fire behavior.
A Wapiti Fire community meeting is planned for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at the fire station in Lowman. Officials will also be present to answer questions about the Nellie Fire. The community meeting will also be available via Facebook livestream.
UPDATE (Sept. 2, 11 a.m.): The Wapiti Fire near Stanley has spread to over 107,000 acres and remains at 0% containment.
The fire became very active around the entire perimeter on Sunday afternoon, as the inversion lifted and winds picked up. A Red Flag Warning issued Monday morning is expected to produce challenging conditions for firefighters as dry fuels and winds increase fire activity.
More than 1,400 personnel are working to fight the Wapiti Fire, with crews on Monday focusing on strengthening and holding established lines.
A Wapiti Fire community meeting is planned for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at the fire station in Lowman. Officials will also be present to answer questions about the Nellie Fire. The community meeting will also be available via Facebook livestream.
UPDATE (August 29, 5:11 pm): The Lower Stanley and the Gateway Community's evacuation status has changed to Level 2 'GET SET,' meaning residents will be allowed to return to the area at 8 pm.
The Custer County Sheriff's Office reminds residents that the change in evacuation status does not mean that there is no longer any threat in the area.
UPDATE (August 28, 1:03 pm): The Custer County Sheriff's Office has released more evacuation orders due to the spread of the Wapiti Fire. Casino Zone and Zone 3 (labeled below) have been moved to Level 2 'GET SET' evacuation status. Zones 4 and 5 (also below) have been moved to Level 1 'GET READY' status.
UPDATE (August 28, 10:06 am): The Wapiti Fire is now 79,745 acres after conditions increased fire activity on Tuesday. The fire remains 0% contained as evacuations were ordered for nearby communities.
The Custer County Sheriff's Office ordered emergency evacuations for parts of the Stanley area as the Wapiti fire continues to grow via their Facebook page.
Level 3 'GO' evacuations were ordered for zone 1 (highlighted in red), Level 2 'GET SET' evacuations were ordered for zone 2 (highlighted in yellow), and Level 1 'GET READY' evacuations were ordered for zone 3 (highlighted in green).
The Sheriff's office also announced that Highway 74 from milepost 190 to 195 is also closed because of the wildfire growth.
Fire crews remain focused on fortifying firelines in the area and protecting communities from the flames.
More near-critical fire weather conditions are expected to begin Wednesday afternoon, but crews on site are preparing for challenging fire behavior.
UPDATE (August 27, 9:00 am): As the Wapiti Fire climbs to 70,271 acres and remains at 0% containment, near critical fire weather conditions are expected for the Stanley area. Gusty winds and a dry cold front overnight will likely increase fire behavior, rates of growth, and torching.
A community meeting with information on the Wapiti Fires, as well as the other Middle Fork Complex fires, is scheduled for 6pm on August 27 at the fire station in Lowman. Idaho News 6 will be attending the event and sharing the updates, but you can also watch it live on the Wapiti Fire Information 2024 Facebook page.
Level 3 'GO' evacuations are still in effect for Stanley Zone 1 in Custer County and the community of Hanging Valley in Boise County due to the closure on Highway 21. Other areas near the fire have received lower level evacuation notices. A map of the fire area including closures and evacuation zones for August 27 is available here.
The latest evacuation information for Custer County is available here, Boise County evacuation information is available here.
Sign up for more timely evacuation information by enrolling in Code Red alerts here.
UPDATE (9 p.m., Aug. 26): Due to the Wapiti and Nellie fires’ growth, the U.S. National Forest Service expanding closure areas to include most of the Lowman Ranger District, including Bear Valley.
The closure will include the 582 and 563 roads, and a large portion of the 579 road. An updated closure map will be available by Tuesday, Aug. 27.
The Boise County Sheriffs Office has also made changes to evacuation levels. All homes along the Highway 21 corridor from milepost 82 to 85 have been placed under a Level 1 evacuation alert, advising residents to be prepared.
UPDATE (6 p.m., Aug. 26): Fire activity has increased on the Wapiti Fire with the fire moving into Crooked Creek. The fire has grown to over 68,000 acres and crews will begin defensive firing operations Monday evening.
A very large air tanker and large air tanker have been ordered to create a retardant line south of Iron Creek and east of highway 21. This retardant line will also serve as a line between the fire and Stanley.
Aircraft — both helicopters and air tankers — will be active northwest of Stanley Monday afternoon and evening. Smoke production is expected to increase and flames will be visible into the night.
UPDATE: Evacuations remain in place in Custer County, due to the Wapiti fire. Zone 1 is in 'GO' status, while Zone 2 is in 'SET' status and Zone 3 is in 'READY' status.
The fire is now 68,457 acres in size, and has moved east towards Highway 21. No major growth is expected on Sunday, because of a cold, upper-level low pressure system leaving the area.
Highway 21 remains closed between Scenic View Dr. and Stanley.
Fire crews say their current focus is to continue protecting structures and communities, as well as containing the fire's edge.
A community meeting will be held on Sunday, Aug. 25 at the Stanley Community Building at 6 PM. It will also be streamed live on Facebook.
UPDATE: The Wapiti fire displayed extreme fire behavior on Friday. Fire officials say the blaze is now over 45,000 acres in size, and has crossed to the north side of Highway 21.
On the west side of the fire, crews are working around the clock to protect structures. Fireline is in place around structures, while hoses, pumps and sprinkler systems have been deployed.
Highway 21 remains closed between Scenic View Dr. and Stanley.
The Custer County Sheriff's Office has ordered a 'GO' evacuation order for zone 1. Zone 2 is in a 'SET' status, and zone 3 has been placed in the 'READY' status.
A community meeting will be held on Sunday, Aug. 25 at the Stanley Community Building at 6 PM.
UPDATE: The Red Cross of Idaho and East Oregon and its partners have opened a shelter in Stanley for people displaced by the Wapiti Fire in Custer and Boise counties. The shelter is at the Stanley Community Center, 510 Eva Falls Ave. It provides a safe place to stay, meals, information, emotional support, and access to other resources.
Anyone can use the shelter, regardless of nationality or citizenship. All services are free, and no reservations are needed.
UPDATE: Stanley Zone 1 has now been ordered to evacuate due to the growth of the Wapiti Fire. The map below shows which areas are subject to the order at this time.
Sign up for more timely evacuation information by enrolling in Code Red alerts here.
The Wapiti Fire has grown to 35,631 acres and has spread east to Stanley Lake triggering preparations for an evacuation order in Stanley Zone 1.
The growing fire recently prompted highway closures on both Highway 17 and Highway 21. Highway 17 is closed from milepost 14 to Lowman, close to hot springs campground. Highway 21 is closed from milepost 84 to Stanley.
RELATED | SH-21 closed indefinitely due to growing Wapiti Fire
Residents in the area should prepare to evacuate if ordered by the Custer County Sheriff's Office. If you feel you are in danger, do not wait for an evacuation order. That evacuation order could come by 10 a.m. on August 23.
