Update: ( As of Oct. 13th 2:30 p.m. )
Middle Fork Complex: 61,495 acres - 90% contained, 114 personnel
Little to no fire activity has grown since yesterday, with crews on patrol status. On the 555 Road firefighters continue completing repair work. The work down on the road needs to be completed before reopening to the public.
Goat Fire: 34,920, 20% contained, 203 personnel
The Northern side of the fire has been moved into monitor status. Smoke in the Rice Creek area and around the Yellow Jacket Trailhead is an area for firefighters to watch. Firefighters on the south flank of the fire, are continuing to mop up and remove trees and debris in hazardous areas.
Snag Fire: 33,437 acres, 90% contained, 19 personnel
Just like the Goat Fire, the Snag fire has seen little to no fire activity. Crews are continuing to patrol and monitor areas containing hot spots and other hazardous materials.
Update: (As of Oct. 10th 2:30 p.m. )
Goat Fire: 33,450 acres, 23% containment, 255 personnel
Crews continue mitigation efforts in the Yellow Jacket Trail area to ensure the wildfire doesn't affect residential structures near Warm Lake. Mop up and burn operations are continuing between the Silver Creek drainage and the Middle Fork Road. There has been no fire movement in the northeast sector.
Snag Fire: 33,437 acres, 90% completed, 24 personnel
No notable activity occurred in the past two days as crews continue to walk the wildfire's perimeter to ensure containment lines are holding.
Middle Fork Complex: 61,495 acres, 90% completed, 137 personnel
Smoldering and creeping fire activity is expected to continue today with no new significant growth expected in the near future. Crews continue to execute mop ups and observe containment lines. A small area of intense heat exists in the Nellie area, which lies southeast of Scott Mountain. However, that area has only seen minimal growth. The few areas still holding significant heat have the potential to see some isolated torching and surface activity.
Update: (As of Oct. 7th 11:00 a.m. )
Goat Fire: 32,218 acres, 25% containment, 217 personnel
On the Northeast side of the fire perimeter crews continue to build lines toward the Warm Lake area. There are some areas of intense heat along the southeast and northwest. Near Silver and Bridge Creeks firefighters continue to strategically reduce efforts for added fire activity.
Snag Fire: 33,437 acres, 90% containment, 12 personnel
No significant activity has been happening for the past couple of days. The crews continue to patrol and monitor certain areas of the fire. Near the north flank of the fire some isolated heat areas are being contained.
Middle Fork Complex: 61,485 acres, 90% containment, 140 personnel
Some areas of fire activity are continued to be worked on by crews, with smoldering and creeping being the main factors. Night shift crews are continuing to patrol and monitor fire activity in hot spots near and around the Middle Fork Complex.
Update: ( As of Oct. 7th 10:00 a.m. )
Middle Fork Complex: 61,493 acres, 90% containment, 152 personnel
- Crews have worked on the south side of the repair work towards the fire. Activity was minor today with crews being able to remove heavy equipment.
Snag Fire: 33,437 acres, 90% containment, 12 personnel
- Crews also continue to work on the south side of the Snag Fire with repair and mop up from heavy equipment.
Goat Fire: 31,831 acres, 27% containment, 195 personnel
- Smoldering activity continued to grow a bit in the Goat Fire. Containment lines are being reinforced towards the Goat Fire's northeast side, will crews making operations towards the Silver Creek area.
UPDATE: (As of Oct. 6, 9 a.m.): The Goat Fire was pushed roughly four miles northeast to the Yellow Jacket Trail area on Friday and Saturday. Firefighters were able to get into the area on Friday, working to protect structures and bridges in the area.
Firefighters were also able to directly engage some of the hot spots and are working to establish a contingency line further north toward the Warm Lake area. Crews will remain in the area watching for activity late into Sunday night. The southern end of the Goat Fire in the Silver Creek area has also been fairly active.
The Middle Fork Complex and the Snag Fire areas have not seen a significant increase in fire behavior. Fire activity in all three fire areas may continue to be active as hot weather continues to dry out fuels.
UPDATE: (As of Oct. 5, 10 a.m.): Firefighters on the Goat Fire worked late into the night on Friday to keep an eye on a portion of the Goat Fire that exhibited some extreme fire behavior on Friday. The area is on the northeast corner of the fire in Valley County, south of Stolle Valley.
The fire advanced to the area of the Yellow Jacket Creek Trail Bridge, over a mile and a half from the previous perimeter. Firefighters on Friday were taking steps to protect bridges and other infrastructure from the fast-moving fire.
Aircraft support was limited on Friday due to the new Valley Fire near Boise that was threatening homes, as well as another new, but much smaller fire, also in Valley County, called the Bummer Fire.
There are no reports of structure damage at this time, but the Valley County Sheriff’s Office has placed the Warm Lake area in a “READY” evacuation status.
UPDATE: (As of Oct. 4, 5:45 p.m.): The Valley County Sheriff’s Office is placing a "GO" evacuation notice for the Edwardsburg area due to the movement of the Logan Fire in the Payette National Forest. VCSO is also placing a "READY" evacuation notice for the Warm Lake area for safety measures due to the movement of the Goat Fire.
Fire crews are in the area continuing firefighting measures. Call Fire Information at 208-634-0820 with any questions you may have.
UPDATE: (As of Oct. 3, 10:30 a.m.): Fire activity on the Goat Fire increased on Thursday due to several days of warm temperatures and no moisture.
Helicopters and water scoopers are working aggressively to slow the spread, as additional firefighters move into the area. The public is asked to stay out of the Boiling Springs and Silver Creek area, if possible.
UPDATE (Sept. 25, 1:45 p.m.): The Middle Fork Complex Fire has burned over 61,000 acres and is 86% contained.
Heavy equipment was moved to assist with line rehab between the Goat and Nellie fires on Wednesday and will be ongoing. Chipping has been completed on the 555 road and crews will continue to clear fire fuel to ensure the 555 road is clear of debris
UPDATE (Sept. 23, 12:30 p.m.): Fire officials working on the Middle Fork Complex fires say fire behavior is not expected to increase on Monday.
Firefighters are continuing to implement fire line near Deadwood Reservoir, close to 582 road. They are also along 555 road to clear debris in fuel breaks. Fire officials say the fuel breaks are intended to stop fire spread, regardless of the direction it came from.
The Middle Fork Complex Fires have reached 85% completion.
The Snag Fire is 78% completed. Fire officials say on the east side of the fire, natural barriers as well as old burns will minimize growth.
The Goat Fire is has now reached 32% completion. On the west side of the fire, firefighters are continuing to construct line to protect private lands.
Update: (As of Sept. 22): The Middle Fork Complex Fire has burned over 61,000 acres and is 85% contained.
The Snag Fire has reached 33,000 acres with 75% containment, while the Goat Fire is over 26,000 acres at 32% containment. More than 820 personnel are fighting these fires. The public is reminded to expect heavy fire equipment and support vehicle traffic on all open roads.
Trail Creek Hot Springs is currently within the closure area being assessed by fire crews.
Update: (Sept. 20, 11 a.m.): The Boise County Sheriff's Office announced that all evacuation orders for Boise County have been lifted. Additionally, Highway 21 is open from Lowman to Stanley, as of Friday morning.
Some Forest Service roads may remain closed — the latest updates can be found on the Forest Service Facebook page,
Update: (Sept. 19, 11:30 a.m.): The U.S. Forest Service has reduced the size of the Middle Fork Complex Fire closures due to progress made by firefighters and recent rains.
This closure change opens the 693 road and most of the Scriver Creek drainage. Road 670 is open for much of its length, though lands north of the road remains closed.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will be rescinded across southwest Idaho on lands managed by the Boise National Forest, Idaho Deptartment of Lands and Bureau of Land Management beginning Sept. 20 at 8 a.m.
Update: (Sept. 18, 8 p.m.): The Boise National Forest has reduced the size of two of its fire closure areas due to progress made by firefighters and recent rains including the Middle Fork Complex Fires.
A closure change opens the 693 road and most of the Scriver Creek drainage. Road 670 is open for much of its length, though lands north of the road remain closed.
Update: (Sept. 18, 11 a.m.): The Great Basin Incident Management Team 2 transitioned with Great Basin IMT 5 and Rocky Mountain IMT 3, assuming management of the Middle Fork fires on Wednesday.
Lower temperatures continue to support the reduction in fire behavior. Air quality and smoke outlooks have continued to improve, allowing relief for the surrounding communities and businesses.
Fire activity remained minimal on Tuesday and some small growth was seen in the fire area in the afternoon as temperatures began to rise, fuels dried, and winds increased ahead of the storms.
Debris slides continued to occur on the forest roads, including the 678 and 555 roads. Due to ongoing weather, more debris slides are likely throughout the burn area and crews must wait until conditions improve and roadways dry to begin assessing and repairing roads.
Highway 21 remains closed from the Sourdough Lodge in Lowman to Stanley Lake Road, but is scheduled to be reopened at 8 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20.
Update: (Sept. 16): High winds and hail were possible Monday, as thunderstorms returned to the fire area.
Heavy rainfall was also expected.
Recent storms have dramatically slowed the the fire's spread, though heavy fuels continue to smolder.
Crews continue to removed hazardous trees and work to improve road conditions in the area.
There will be a community meeting tonight, September 16, at 6 p.m. at the White Barn Building, located near 85 Severance Road in Garden Valley, Idaho
Update: (Sept.14): Fire behavior has decreased to mostly smoldering and creeping, though some areas with heavy dead vegetation are still burning. Firefighters are vigilant for new starts from recent lightning, which might not produce visible smoke until the area warms up and dries out.
On the southern edge of the Nellie Fire, mop-up work along Highway 17 is complete.
Crews are preparing hose and water equipment on the north end of the Bulldog Fire and making progress on mop-up in the Deadwood Reservoir area on the Nellie Fire. Heavy machinery is also improving the 555 Road to the north as a backup line to protect at-risk areas if necessary.
Today will be warmer and drier, with a storm system approaching that may bring mostly cloudy skies and a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the late afternoon and evening.
Highway 21 is closed from Sourdough Lodge in Lowman to Stanley Lake Road.
Update: (Sept. 13, 11 a.m.): The Middle Fork Complex is 61,159 acres, with 32% completion. 621 personnel are assigned to the fire. A drying trend is expected after recent rain, but fire activity is likely to remain limited.
Falling trees have become a concern. Many trees in the area have shallow roots, and, after the fires, can be pushed over by storms and high winds.
There will be a community meeting Fridday, September 13, at 6 p.m. at the White Barn Building, near 85 Severance Road, Garden Valley, Idaho. The recording will be posted on Inciweb, YouTube, and Facebook.
Update: (Sept. 12, 9:40 p.m.): The Middle Fork Complex Fire Closure Order has been revised to align with the Wapiti Fire Closure. The updated order now closes roads 582 and 563, as well as road 579 from its intersection with 563 eastward to its junction with Highway 21.
UPDATE (Sept. 12, 11:15 a.m.): The Middle Fork Complex is still roughly 61,000 acres and has reached 30% completion.
Temperatures are below normal for this time of year with a relative humidity remaining at or above 60%. The increased clouds and relative humidity will reduce fire activity to smoldering and creeping along the forest floor with possible pockets of increased activity in areas with large dead and down vegetation.
Thursday’s focus is assessing safety conditions of the Bulldog and Nellie Fire areas to ensure any hazards are mitigated prior to reengaging in firefighting operations.
There will be a community meeting at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 13 at the White Barn Building, near 85 Severance Road in Garden Valley.
UPDATE (Sept. 11, 10:20 a.m.): The Middle Fork Complex is just over 61,000 acres, with 352 acres of growth on Tuesday night.
There are over 650 personnel working to fight the fire, with crews working to hold the fire east of the Middle Fork corridor.
Highway 21 remains closed from the Sourdough Lodge in Lowman to Stanley Lake Road (MP 84 to 126) due to nearby wildfire activity.
The community meeting scheduled for Sept. 11 is canceled due to possible inclement weather. There will instead be a community meeting at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, at the White Barn Building, near 85 Severance Road in Garden Valley.
UPDATE (Sept. 10): The Middle Fork Complex fire has reached over 60,809 acres of burned area with just 30% containment. Over 697 personnel are working to fight the blaze, including 18 hand crews, 26 engines, and 4 helicopters.
Today, the crews are expecting winds from the southwest up to 25 mph, with the same dry conditions. When the weather gets better, the Scott Mountain Tower will operate a fuel mitigation.
Closures: Highway 21 is closed from Sourdough Lodge in Lowman to Stanley.
UPDATE (Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m.): The Middle Fork Complex Fire has reached over 57,800 acres of burned area with just 28% completion. Over 781 personnel are on the scene, including 16 hand crews, 36 engines and 4 helicopters.
A community meeting will be held on Friday at 6:00 p.m. at the White Barn Building in Garden Valley. Boise National Forest with representatives will be on hand to provide updates, and key information about the fires.
Closures: Highway 21 from Sourdough Lodge (Lowman to Stanley - MP 84 to 130) is closed due to the wildfire.
UPDATE (Sept. 4, 3:00 p.m.): The U.S. Forest Service says the west side of the Bulldog Fire, along Middle Fork Road remains secure.
Crews on the Nellie Fire are mopping-up hot sports on the west side of the fire line.
The Forest Service says a major focus is constructing fire lines near Deadwood Reservoir, to direct the fire into previously burned areas.
A community meeting will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 6:00 p.m. at the White Barn Building in Garden Valley.
UPDATE (Sept. 2, 9:30 a.m.): A community meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 2 to update on the Middle Fork Complex Fires, including the Nellie and Bulldog Fires, which have burned over 56,000 acres since starting on Aug. 8.
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning Monday morning, with the inversion that had a modifying effect on the fire over the weekend expected to lift and be replaced by high winds and thunderstorms. Fire behavior analysts are anticipating very active fire behavior on Monday.
More than 900 personnel are working to fight the fires, with crews focusing their efforts on structure protection in the Silver Creek and Boiling Springs areas near the Bulldog Fire.
The community meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday at the White Barn Building, near 85 Severance Road, in Garden Valley. The Incident Commander, key team members, and Boise National Forest representatives will provide the latest fire updates and address any questions.
UPDATE (August 27, 9:56 am): The fires burning in the Middle Fork Complex remain at 5% containment as Highway 21 remains closed from milepost 84 - 130.
The Nellie and Bulldog Fires have burned a combined 47,400 acres since August 8. Now the goal for fire crews is to herd the larger Nellie Fire into a previously burned area to prevent it from moving north.
No homes or structures in the Deadwood area near the fires have been lost at this time.
A community meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 28 at 6 pm at the White Barn Building (85 Severance Rd) in Garden Valley. The meeting will see the incident commander as well as other key team members providing updates on the fire containment progress.
UPDATE (August 26, 10:30 am): The fires burning in the Middle Fork Complex have continued to grow following a series of evacuations ordered for parts of Boise County.
The Nellie and Bulldog fires now cover 46,994 acres in the area and remain just 5% contained.
A community meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 16 at 6:00 pm, at the white barn, 85 Severance Road. The incident commander and key team members are expected to provide updates on the fires burning in the Middle Fork Complex and address questions from community members.
UPDATE: Danskin Station and Hanging Valley Subdivision remain under level 3, 'GO' evacutaions on Sunday.
The U.S. Forest Service says the Middle Fork Complex, a combination of the Bulldog and Nellie fires is now 45,992 acres in size.
Banks-Lowman road is closed from Lowman to Alder Creek Road, near Garden Valley.
A community meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 16 at 6:00 pm, at the white barn, 85 Severance Road.
Original Story: The Boise County Sheriff's Office has ordered level 3, 'GO' evacuations for the Danskin Station and Hanging Valley Subdivision.
Lightning Creek Road is under level 2, 'SET' evacuations, while South Fork Rd, north of Grimes Pass is under level 1, 'READY' orders.
Banks-Lowman road remains partially closed on Saturday, as the Middle Fork Complex continues to burn north of Crouch, in Boise County.
The road is closed between the Alder Creek Airstrip in Garden Valley to Lowman.
The U.S. Forest Service will hold a community meeting on Saturday at 6 PM to provide updates and address questions.
The meeting will be held at 342 Village Circle in Crouch.
On Friday, both the Nellie and Bulldog fires both grew in size.
