UPDATE (August 13 at 5 a.m.): The Nethker Fire is now estimated at 2,292 acres and is 56 percent contained. Warren Wagon Road has reopened but the Burgdorf/French Creek Road is still closed to non-fire personnel.
Crews are still making progress on all fronts, building containment lines, finding hot spots and putting them out.
An area closure implemented by the Payette National Forest is still in place. Closures include Trail Lake, Summit Lake, Lake Rock and Bear Pete Mountain. Chinook Campground is open with access only from warren.
You can find a closure order and map here.
UPDATE (August 11 at 8:30 p.m.):
Fire crews in the Payette National Forest are making progress on the Nethker Fire burning near Burgdorf.
The fire's estimated size has reduced slightly to 2,253 acres and it is now 41% contained.
There are still 642 personnel working the fire.
Overnight, crews are expecting fog and temperatures into the 30's.
As the fire has progressed north, it's made it's way to a burn scar from the Burgdorf Fire which happened in 2000.
Crews spend the day Sunday cutting down fire-damaged trees along roadways which remain closed to non-fire personnel.
UPDATE (August 11 at 8:10 A.M.):
The Nethker fire is still estimated around 2,383 acres with 18% containment, due to additional fire growth.
Officials say fuels under the forest canopy remain dry and could still burn despite the rain and higher humidity.
Crews have put 35 miles of hose line around the southern edge of the fire, in addition to putting in hand line to secure that part of the fire. Five hotshot crews will also be working today along the northwest edge of the fire to tie it in to the pre-existing burn scar from the 2000 Burgdorf Fire.
Warren Wagon Road remains closed from Secesh Summit to Grouse Creek, except to those who have property in the area. The closure is staffed by incident personnel. Property owners may have to wait for a pilot car to escort them through the closure area.
Firefighters continue to work to secure the fire's edge around Burgdorf and along the roadways in the area to restore safe travel routes for landowners and recreationists in the Burgdorf, Secesh and Warren areas.
UPDATE (August 10 at 7:50 P.M.):
The Nethker Fire is now estimated around 2,382 acres with 18% containment.
Officials say crews had to put firefighting and aircraft operations on hold this afternoon due to storms that brought rain and lightning to the area.
Firefighters and aircraft were able to continue working once the storm had passed.
Warren Wagon Road remains closed from Secesh Summit to Grouse Creek, expect to those who have property in the area.
Firefighters are working to secure the fire's edge around Burgdorf and along the roadways in the area to restore safe travel routes for landowners and recreationists in the Burgdor, Secesh and Warren areas.
UPDATE (August 10):
The Nethker Fire is still estimated around 2,000 acres with 27% containment.
Fire officials say the fire is burning toward an old burn scar which will help stop the spread of new flames.
A community meeting is being held Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Secesh Fire Department.
A Red Flag warning remains in effect Saturday due to the threat of thunderstorms that could produce winds up to 45 mph accompanied by marble-size hail. The wind gusts could accelerate fire activity and movement; however, cooler, wetter weather is also in the forecast. This is expected to moderate fire activity and decrease the potential for spot fires.
"The Warren Wagon Road north of McCall is closed to individuals who do not have property in the area. Incident personnel are staffing roadblocks north of Secesh Summit and south of Grouse Creek. This is subject to changed based on fire activity. Delays may occur while property owners wait for the pilot car to escort them," a post on the Payette National Forest facebook page states. "The Burgdorf/French Creek Road also remains closed from the Warren Wagon junction to Corduroy."
An existing area closure for Forest Service land has been expanded. Popular areas affected by this closure include: Trail Lake, Summit Lake, Lake Rock, Josephine Lake, Frosty Meadow, Ruby Meadows to Loon Lake (Loon Lake remains open), Crystal Mountain, and Bear Pete Mountain. Chinook Campground is open with access only from Warren. The closure order and map can be found here: http://bit.ly/NethkerFireAreaClosure2.
UPDATE (August 9 at 9 PM):
The Nethker Fire is now burning over 2,000 acres and is 25 percent contained.
Officials say the fire is moving north, adjacent to Burgdorf Hot Springs.
Crews on the northwest side of the fire have successfully held the fire south of Burgdorf Hot Springs and the Forest Service Guard Station.
The area received rain overnight, but it wasn't significant. A red flag warning has been issued starting Friday afternoon through noon Saturday due to thunderstorms, hail and 40 mile an hour winds.
Authorities urge everyone to stay off of Warren Wagon Road if at all possible. Property owners may have to wait for an escort car, which may cause delays.
Burgdorf and French Creek Roads remain closed for public and firefighter safety.
UPDATE (August 9):
The Nethker fire is now burning around 1,000 and 5 percent contained, only growing 100 acres since Thursday.
Officials say the fire is moving north, adjacent to Burgdorf Hot Springs.
Crews on the northwest side of the fire have successfully held the fire south of Burgdorf Hot Springs and the Forest Service Guard Station.
The area received rain overnight, but it wasn't significant. A red flag warning has been issued starting Friday afternoon through noon Saturday due to thunderstorms, hail and 40 mile an hour winds.
Warren Wagon Road in McCall remains closed to individuals who do not have property in the area. Property owners may have to wait for an escort car, which may cause delays.
Burgdorf and French Creek Roads remain closed for public and firefighter safety.
UPDATE (August 8):
The Nethker fire is now burning around 1,000 acres based on an infrared flight.
The fire moved to the north and east, and is now established on the north side of Burgdorf/French Creek Road. There are multiple spot fires burning on the east side of Warren Wagon Road near the intersection with the Burgdorf/French Creek road.
FIrefighters are working to protect Burgdorft Hot Springs, the Guard Station, and the area's anadramous fish sources.
An area closure for Forest Service land is in effect and covers Jeanette Campground and dispersed camping along Warren Wagon Road, Burgdorf/French Creek Road, Lake Creek and Summit Creek. The perimeter of the closure area is expected to increase.
The fire has been spotted across the Warren Wagon Road in several places and is on both sides of Burgdorf Road as of this morning. Both Burgdorf and Warren Wagon Roads are closed.
If you live in the area, Idaho County Sheriff's Office has issued a FULL evacuation and you are urged to be proactive and leave the area.
A TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) has been implemented over the fire area--which means recreational drones and private aircraft may not be operated over the fire.
UPDATE (August 7): A FULL evacuation is in place for all of Burgdorf.
Idaho County Sheriff's Office says Burgdorf and Warren Wagon roads are closed. A deputy is on the way to issue residents evacuation notices, but if you live in the area, officials ask you to be proactive and remove yourself from the area.
Officials do not yet know when the area will be reopened, so please plan accordingly and grab any medications and essentials you may need.
UPDATE (August 6): Firefighters are still working to fight the Nethker Fire, which has grown to 250 acres in size.
Warren Wagon Road and Burgdorf/French Creek Road are still open, but an area closure is in place on Forest Service lands (including Jeanette Campground and dispersed camping grounds in the area).
Firefighters say cooler temperatures and cloud cover will help with firefighting efforts. The incident management team is going to take command of the fire Tuesday evening.
UPDATE (August 5): The mountains are now solidly in fire season.
Payette National Forest managers have evacuated Jeanette Campground and other dispersed camping areas near Burgdorf, as the Nethker Fire continues to burn between McCall and Riggins. The owners of Burgdorf Hot Springs have decided to close for now, but both Warren Wagon and Burgdorf-French Creek roads are open.
This video, sent in by Amy Newcomb, shows flames roaring up the side of the mountain, with smoke billowing into the air. Air tankers, helicopters and firefighters on the ground are working the fire. Firefighters say the fire was caused by lightning.
Original Story:
Fire managers are evacuating campgrounds north of McCall after the Nethker Creek Fire burns over 150 acres of land.
The fire is spreading east towards Warren Wagon Rd, but is not expected to reach the road tonight.
Burgdorf Hot Springs and Burgdorf-French Creek Rd. have also been closed.
Air tankers, helicopters, and ground based firefighters are working on suppressing the fire.
Photo Courtesy: U.S. Forest Service - Payette National Forest
