Southwest Idaho wildfire update

Published: August 10, 2012 

About a half dozen major wildfires are burning in Southwest and Central Idaho.

Here is the latest information as of Saturday night:

SPRINGS FIRE

Location: Between Banks and Garden Valley

Size: 4,600 acres, 25 percent contained

Closures: Idaho 55 and the Banks-to-Lowman Road are open. Expect heavy fire traffic and rolling rocks that could fall without warning. There have been reports of people stopping to take pictures and walk into the fire area. Travelers are asked to not stop within the fire area on either road because of several hazards in the area and the safety hazard that parked vehicles cause to the public, firefighters and fire operations. The Payette and South Fork Payette rivers are open, but rafters should use caution where helicopters are dipping and be cautious of trees weakened by fire falling into the river.

HALSTEAD FIRE

Location: Northwest of Stanley in the Cape Horn area

Size: 43,534 acres, 3 percent contained

Closures: Idaho 21 between Grandjean Road and Boundary Creek Road (milepost 93.75 to 110), 19 miles south of Stanley, will be open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday with a pilot car. The road has been closed since Thursday afternoon. All forest roads and trails in the Cape Horn, Seafoam and east of the Middle Fork Salmon areas are closed including the following campgrounds: Beaver Creek Campground, Lola Creek Campground, Marsh Creek Transfer, Josephus Lake.

Community meeting: 7 p.m. Saturday at the Stanley Community Center.

TRINITY RIDGE FIRE

Location: Atlanta, Rocky Bar and Middle Fork Boise River areas

Size: 32,250 acres, 5 percent contained

Closures: The Pine-to-Featherville Road is open to residents only. All forest roads and trails in the area roughly between Featherville and Idaho City north to near Lowman and Grandjean are closed.

MUSTANG COMPLEX FIRE

Location: North of the Salmon River between the Corn Creek and Shoup areas.

Size: 4,106 acres

Closures: Salmon River Road (Forest Road 30) is open but traffic could be delayed on portions near the Colson Creek drainage through Monday due to fire-fighting activities. The following forest roads are closed: Colson Creek Road (123) from the junction with Salmon River Road to the junction with Spring Creek Road (38), Long Tom Road (166), Corn Lake Road (64) and Cayuse Point Road (67). Horse Creek Road (65), Horse Creek Campground and Horse Creek Hot Springs also are closed.

Community meeting: 3 p.m. Sunday at the North Fork Fire Department.

CAVE CANYON FIRE

Location: Southwest of Burley, west of Oakley.

Size: 80,012 acres, 15 percent contained

Closures: Evacuations are in effect for Rock Creek Canyon and Dry Creek roads.

AIR QUALITY

The Treasure Valley remains under a yellow air quality alert through at least Monday, according to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Under a yellow, or moderate, alert, people who are unusually sensitive may have respiratory symptoms.

All individuals may want to consider postponing strenuous outdoor activities until air quality improves.

STAGE 1 RESTRICTIONS

Continued hot, dry conditions throughout southwest and central Idaho have prompted Stage 1 fire restrictions on an expanded slate of private and government land throughout much of southwest and central Idaho Areas under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions now include:

• All private, state and BLM protected lands outside incorporated city limits within Ada, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Washington counties, and portions of Idaho, Adams, Valley, Custer, Elmore, Camas and Blaine counties;

• All Boise National Forest lands within Boise, Elmore, Gem and Ada counties, and a portion of Valley County;

• All Payette National Forest lands within Adams, Washington and Idaho counties, and a portion of Valley County; and

• All Sawtooth National Forest lands within Elmore and Camas counties, and portions of Blaine and Custer counties

Stage 1 fire restrictions prohibit the following acts:

• Using a fire, campfire or stove fire, except within a designated recreation site, or on the user's own land within an owner-provided structure.

• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

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