Fire Update
Idaho’s Red-Flag Fire Warning and Other Fire News in the State
By J. Gelband, 8-22-06
Fire officials issued a red-flag fire warning in Idaho yesterday due to gusty winds, low humidity, lightning, and temperatures hovering around 100 degrees. Worse, officials at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise say conditions will likely worsen fire danger in coming days.Strong winds could fan existing fires, and since August is typically a very dry month, the lightning expected in the forecast could ignite more wildfires in the area.
A red-flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either happening now or they will happen soon. It indicates that conditions could generate explosive fire growth potential. And right now, the forecast shows southwesterly winds increasing over the Boise and Payette national forests.
In addition to the 282,700 acres across the state already charred by wildfires, some of the controversial aerial spraying of pesticide to ward off West Nile Virus was stopped because of the severe thunderstorms yesterday in and around southwest Idaho. No word yet on when and if it will resume.
But back to fires: According to NIFC, nine wildfires are burning today in Idaho, including three new fires. One of the new hot spots is the Rattlesnake Complex in the Boise National Forest, thirteen miles northeast of Garden Valley. The fire has burned 325 acres of subalpine fir and pine, and crews have it at zero percent contained. The fire has closed a forest road and is threatening residences, cabins, a church camp, and several campgrounds.
The Chubby Spain fire seven miles northeast of Jordan Valley, which started on state land in grass and heavy brush, has already burned 4,000 acres at zero percent contained. Residences are threatened and one road in the area is closed.
Crews worked quickly to completely contain the third new fire. Goodtime Fire in the Twin Falls District Bureau of Land Management was contained at 2,400 acres.
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Hi -- my partner and I are planning to vacation in the Stanley area September 3 through 9. Is this a bad idea because of the fires? We were planning to stay at the Sawtooth Lodge, whose owner was nice enough to warn me about the fire situation when I called for reservations. We're coming to Idaho from the East Coast because I have a conference in Boise on September 6. Should we plan to spend our vacation time somewhere else? If so, does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks for any information you can provide.
Comment By Courtney Lowery, 8-25-06Denise,
Most of the fires around there are far enough away from Stanley that I think it's still worth a shot. And, in a few weeks, things will start slowing down fire-wise.
Here's a good link to keep up with how those fires nearby are doing: http://www.inciweb.org/forest/46/
And, I would just keep checking with the folks at the Sawtooth Lodge.
Hope that helps!
It does help, Courtney -- thanks. I've been checking the "inciweb" site, but since I don't know much about Idaho, I wasn't sure how close the fires are to the lodge, or whether we needed to stay out of the area just on principle.
BTW, I love New West!