Nature Conservancy Plans Controlled Burn at Flat Ranch Preserve

Southwest Idaho Fall prescribed burning planned

Boise, Idaho. Sept. 26, 2018 -- Southwest Idaho interagency fire managers anticipate favorable weather conditions for planned low-intensity prescribed burns this fall. Prescribed burns are designed to reduce hazardous vegetation (fuels), minimize wildfire potential near communities and improve wildlife habitat.

Weather and fuel conditions permitting, prescribed burns are scheduled to start in October and continue through November. Approximately 2,600 acres are planned for controlled ignitions in 13 project areas within the Boise National Forest.

Public and firefighter safety is always the first priority in all public land fire operations. Fire managers develop burn plans that consider: safety, specific fuel and weather prescriptions and smoke management. All prescribed burns are closely evaluated and are only approved when conditions are favorable.

Fire officials strongly advise forest visitors and homeowners to prepare and plan activities around the proposed dates and locations of burns.  Prescribed burns may impact individual’s that are sensitive to smoke. Recreationists should use extreme caution near prescribed fire areas and comply with closures.

Access to areas immediately within or adjacent to burning operations may be temporarily restricted for public health and safety. Specific information and signage will be posted in advance of ignitions and remain in place until operations are completed. Please be cautious of firefighters and additional equipment within these areas as visibility will be decreased with smoke.

The www.rxfire.com website is updated with information regarding southwest Idaho burns planned within Idaho Department of Lands, Bureau of Land Management, Payette National Forest and Boise National Forest.

The Boise National Forest prescribed burn hotline: (208)-373-4208.

Idaho City Ranger District

·     Alder Ridge (100 acres): located 1 mile north of Placerville, Idaho. This is a landscape burn (ground fire), using hand ignitions to reduce fuel in the wildland urban interface (WUI).

·     Amber (300 acres): located 2 miles east of Idaho City, Idaho. This is a modified tree well burn.

·     Buckskin (200): located approximately 3 miles east of Idaho City, Idaho.

·     Little Ophir (100 acres): located 4 miles west of Pioneerville, Idaho. A landscape burn using hand ignitions that will reduce fuel in the WUI.

·     Mores South-Granite Creek (250 acres): located 3 miles east of Idaho City, Idaho. This is a landscape burn (ground fire) using hand ignitions to reduce fuels in the WUI.

Cascade Ranger District

·     Horsethief (360 acres): located about 1 mile east/northeast of Horsethief Reservoir. This burn involves helicopter and hand ignitions to reduce fuels throughout the area that is within the WUI.

·     Westside Restoration Unit 39 (25 acres): This project is located on National Forest System (NFS) road 435 along West Mountain. It is approximately 10 miles west of Cascade, Idaho. This will be hand ignitions burn to reduce fuels within the WUI.

·     Crawford (100 acres): located approximately 4 miles east of Cascade, Idaho adjacent to the Crawford Guard Station, located off of NFS road 22, northeast of Davis reservoir; within WUI area.

·     Lower Johnson Thinning (95 acres): Is a project designed to reduce hazardous fuels within the WUI. This project is located approximately 7 miles south of Yellow Pine along NFS road 413 and Johnson Creek.

·     Yellow Pine Blowdown (40 acres): is located approximately 62 miles from Cascade, Idaho and is adjacent to the community of Yellow Pine. Hand Ignitions will be used to ignite machine piles along NFS roads 412, 413.

·     Rainbow Point (19 acres): This project is located approximately 25 miles northwest of Cascade, Idaho. Machine Piles located within the Rainbow Point campground will be ignited by hand to reduce fuel accumulations throughout the campground.

Mountain Home Ranger District

·     Cottonwood II Rx (1000 acres): This project is located about 17 miles NE of Boise, Idaho along NFS roads 203 and 377 in the Cottonwood Creek drainage, north of Arrowrock Reservoir.

Emmett Ranger District

·       Miscellaneous Administrative Piles (1-2 acres): At Garden Valley work center.

BLM urges hunting and wildfire safety

 News Release

DATE: September 25, 2018

CONTACT:  Jennifer Kline, (208) 373-3963

BLM urges hunting and wildfire safety

STATEWIDE, Idaho - As the weather starts to cool and leaves turn golden brown, many Idaho residents are getting ready for hunting season.  Whether you’re target shooting or building your family’s traditional hunting camp, fire managers urge Idahoans to shoot responsibly and to be vigilant about taking precautions to prevent wildland fires.

“Wildfire conditions are dynamic this time of year,” said BLM Idaho State Fire Management Officer Michael Morcom. “We are still seeing wildfires ignite and grow at alarming rates, which is unusual for this late in the fire season.”

Multiple fires are currently burning in Idaho and some of them are either in or near hunting units. Please be mindful that even though you may not see the firefighters, they are out there.  Remember the Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety, especially Rule #3: “Be sure of the target, what is in front of it and beyond it.” For more information, please visit https://www.hunter-ed.com/idaho/studyGuide/The-Ten-Commandments-of-Firearm-Safety/201014_700016216/

On May 10, 2018, acting BLM Idaho State Director Peter J. Ditton issued a Fire Prevention Order prohibiting the possession or use of steel core, incendiary, and/or tracer ammunition as well as exploding targets while shooting. Be proactive and take precautionary measures by clearing all flammable materials and rocks away from the target shooting area and having fire safety equipment (shovel, fire extinguisher and/or water) on hand. Studies have shown that sparks from steel core/steel jacketed fragments cause vegetation fires as often as lead core/copper jacketed and solid copper jackets fragments.

Before you head out to your favorite hunting spot, make sure your vehicle and trailers are properly maintained by ensuring the safety chain is not dragging, wheel bearings are well greased, and tires are inflated to the proper level to help prevent a blown tire. Sparks thrown from an improperly maintained vehicle or trailer can cause roadside fires without the knowledge of the driver.

Finally, everyone enjoys a campfire, but the devastating effects of an escaped campfire when left unattended could last for many years. Please take the proper steps to completely extinguish your campfire and any warming fires before leaving the area.

For more information on current area wildfires and fire prevention information visit www.idahofireinfo.com, Idaho Fire Info on Facebook, and follow @BLMIdahoFire on Twitter.

Indian Butte Fire Emergency Closure LIFTED

#IndianButteFire Emergency Closure has been LIFTED. Patelzick, Dry Creek and Pleasant Valley can all be accessed. As you return to hunt and recreate please be fire safe. Even though it is chilly over night and in the morning, conditions remain dry and vegetation is primed to ignite.

Twin Falls District Fire Update

For Immediate Release: September 24, 2018

Contact: Kelsey Brizendine, 208-308-5991

Twin Falls District BLM Fire Update

Facebook: Idaho Fire Info

Twitter: @BLMIdahoFire

(#BLMTFDFire)

Conner Fire

●       Location: four miles southeast of Malta

●       Size: estimated 13,500 acres

●       Containment: estimated 9/25 at 8 p.m.

●       Control: estimated 9/27 at 8 p.m.

●       Resources: Raft River RFD,one Sawtooth National Forest engine, two Boise BLM engines,
six Twin Falls Fire engines, two dozers,  two hand crews, BLM camp crew

●       Fuel type: grass, brush, timber

●       Fire behavior: smoldering and creeping

●       Structures threatened: structures in the area but not immediately threatened

●       Cause: human- escaped agriculture burn

Firefighters continue to construct containment lines on the north, west and eastern flanks,
while aircraft focus on the southern flank. Fire activity has slowed, with most of the active
flame inside containment lines. Fire investigators determined the fire to be caused by an
escaped agriculture burn that was conducted on private land adjacent to public lands.

For More Information,

●       Kelsey Brizendine, Fire Information and Prevention Officer, kbrizendine@blm.gov

●       208-308-5991

●       Idaho Wildfires visit www.IdahoFireInfo.com

8 Mile Fire Evening Update, Sept. 23, 2018

8 Mile Fire Update

Twitter: @BLMIdahoFire

Facebook: Idaho Fire Info

Website: IdahoFireInfo.com
(#8MileFire)

Updated Status: Crew made good progress on the 8 mile fire, increasing containment to 75%. Fire size remains at 1,016 acres. Fire officials experienced minimal fire activity today with minor smoldering and creeping in the drier fuels. Fire strategy remains focused on increasing and bolstering containment lines, mopping up burning vegetation and running hose lays to interior hot spots to reduce heat and the possibility of flare ups. Anticipated containment is expected tomorrow, Sept. 24. Caribou County lifted evacuations and closures today. Fire officials still ask the public to remain cognizant of fire operation efforts in the area and to drive slowly. Although temperatures are dropping and days are getting shorter record dry fuels are resulting in fast moving fires. Please be cautious while participating in any activity that may cause a spark.

Start Date: 09/22/2018 at approximately 2 p.m.

Location and Jurisdiction: Five miles southeast of Soda Springs, ID. Burning on private land. Threatening BLM and private forested lands

Cause: Under investigation. For more information on cause, please refer to the Caribou County Sheriff’s Department Facebook Page

Fire Size:  1,016 acres

Percent Contained: 75%, 100 % containment expected 09/24/2018

  

Fire Behavior: Fire is smoldering and creeping. While there is minimal chance for growth, fire officials are taking precautions for high overnight winds.

Structures Threatened:  Two single residences and three other structures were destroyed

Fuels and Terrain:  Burning in grass, brush and scattered timber

Fire Crews/Resources: 8 engines, 2 dozers and two 20-person handcrews. Air support includes air attack and two helicopters. Additional resources supporting the fire are from Caribou, Bear Lake and Franklin County

Evacuations:  The Caribou County Sheriff’s office has lifted all evacuations and closures in the area