Thousands Flee as Wildfire Threatens Idaho Ski Resort Towns

Extreme fire behavior leads to evacuations, explosive growth on Beaver Creek Fire: Report

The 64,000-acre Beaver Creek Fire Wildfire in Sawtooth National Forest, NW of Hailey Idaho, has lead to explosive growth, prompting additional evacuations and pre-evacuation warnings.

The Beaver Creek Fire was ignited by lightning August 7 and has since forced complete evacuation of multiple subdivision on both sides of Highway 75 between Hailey and Ketchum, according to the authorities.

Extreme fire behavior has been predicted again for the remainder of the day. Here, the fire burns near the head of Imperial Gulch, south of Greenhorn. Credit: Sawtooth National Forest/ U.S. Forest Service

Pre-evacuation notice has been implemented for the highway 75 corridor from Beaver ICP to Oregon Gulch including the towns of Sun Valley and Ketchum. Active structure protection on east of fire, burn out of contingency line on SE to protect town of Croy. Forest Service area closure has been increased to the north including the Baker Creek and Easley Hot Springs area.

Early Damage Assessment

Exact count of structures destroyed or damaged 8/15 unknown, at least one primary residence destroyed with damage to several others; the bridge on FS road 227 connecting Ketchum and Fairfield destroyed; loss of multiple outbuildings certain, 1 RAWS destroyed. Block 22: Injury likely ACL tear, one dehydration, firefighters demobed for treatment at home.

Visit from Governor Otter and USFS Chief on 8/16. Unified Command established with Ketchum and Wood River Fire and Rescue departments. Additional structure protection assets coordinated with IDL on order including overhead from out of state. Daily public meetings with local citizens with significant media interest. Resources contributed from other incidents much appreciated. Insurance company engine representative coordinating with Team. [Inciweb]

Beaver Creek Fire is one of 10 large (greater than 100 acres), uncontained wildfires in the area.

Some 2 dozen large Idaho wildfires have been burning about 500,000 acres across the state since last month.

Hundreds of large wildfires have been scorching millions of acres across 13 states–Idaho, Utah, Oregon, Wyoming, California, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Washington, New Mexico, Colorado, Wisconsin and Alaska–since May 2013.

Beaver Creek Fire, Twin Falls, ID

Fire Stats

Cause:  Lightning
Date of Origin: Wednesday August 07th, 2013 approx. 12:00 AM
Location: northwest of Hailey Idaho

• Size: 64,236 acres
• Percent Contained: 6%
• Growth Potential: Extreme

• Terrain Difficulty: Extreme
• Total Personnel: 698

Fire Behavior: Extreme fire behavior with active surface runs and crown fire. All fuels receptive to spotting.

Current Weather

• Wind Conditions: 7-15 g 30 mph SW
• Temperature: 91 degrees
• Humidity: 7%

Elk Complex Fire

The Elk Fire, which  resulted from several lightning-sparked fires burning together on the night of August 8 has now consumed more than 125, 000 acres, destroying at least 81 structures.

The evacuation of the Pine/ Featherville corridor, issued by the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, remains in place.

Elmore County Sheriffs Office Completes Structure Assessment

At least 38 residences and 43 outbuildings have been destroyed totaling 81 structures.

Idaho Governor Butch Otter visited the Complex today and met with the military commanders who have been assigned to the fire area.

Elk Complex Fire. Boise National Forest/ U.S. Forest Service

Elk Complex Fire, SW of Pine, ID

• Cause: Lightning
• Date of Origin: Thursday August 08th, 2013 approx. 09:00 PM
• Location:  10 miles southwest of Pine
• Size: 125,033 acres
• Percent Contained 50%Total Personnel 834

• Estimated Containment Date Tuesday October 01st, 2013 approx. 12:00 AM

• Fuels Involved: timber, brush, grass
• Fire Behavior:  Single and group tree torching and short crown runs. Spotting distances of one half mile are possible. Where fuels, topography and weather aligned, rates of spread of up to 80 chains per hour were likely to have occurred but were obscured by smoke.

• Growth Potential: Extreme
• Terrain Difficulty: Extreme

Current Weather

• Wind Conditions 20 mph SW
• Temperature: 90 degrees
• Humidity: 8%

Related Links

• Two Idaho Towns Evacuated Due To Massive Wildfire  August 14, 2013
• Disaster Declared in Elmore County, Idaho  August 13, 2013
• Idaho Wildfire Threatens Entire County August 12, 2013
• Idaho Town Evacuated as Wildfires Rage  August 10, 2013
• Drought Disaster Declared in 37 Counties Across 5 States August 15, 2013
• Utah Wildfire Destroys Dozens of Homes, Structures August 14, 2013

Two Idaho Towns Evacuated Due To Massive Wildfire

Pine, Featherville evacuated as Elk Complex Fire continues to spread

The Elk Complex threatens the mountain town of Pine and the neighboring hamlet of Featherville, about 70 miles east of Boise, Idaho.

Evacuation orders have been issued for the Featherville and Pine areas due to increased fire activity, said the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office.

The fire has destroyed an estimated 20 homes, and many structures.

The Elk Complex Fire. Running crown fire into Pine. Credit: Boise National Forest/ U.S. Forest Service.

The Elk Fire resulted from several lightning fires which burned together on the night of August 8th. Fuels continue to be extremely dry and when combining with steep terrain, is creating plume dominated fire behavior. Areas concern are the small settlement of Prairie on the west side of the fire and the Pine/Featherville corridor on the east side. The southern perimeter follows the South Fork of the Boise River from Smith Creek to the end of Anderson Ranch Reservoir near Pine. The fire continues to move up the river corridor on the west side from Pine towards Featherville. Primary objective is to secure the fireline between all homes/subdivisions and the mountains to the west. Securing Prairie homes and ranches is a high priority. Ultimately the plan is to push the northern portion of the fire into the Trinity fire from last year.

The Elk Complex Fire. Lead plane marks the spot. Credit: Boise National Forest/ U.S. Forest Service.

The Boise National Forest has expanded a large area closure that is described specifically in the CLOSURES portion of this site. A map of the closure area can be found under MAPS. The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office has a mandatory evacuation in effect from Hwy 20 to the Johnson Creek Bridge south of Featherville. [Inciweb]

The Elk Complex Fire. Blaze starting to crest over ridge. Credit: Boise National Forest/ U.S. Forest Service.  

Fire  Information
Cause: Lightning
Date of Origin: Thursday August 08th, 2013 approx. 09:00 PM
Location: 10 miles southwest of Pine

Total Personnel: 631
Size: 98,413 acres
Percent Contained: 10%
Estimated Containment Date :Tuesday October 01st, 2013 approx. 12:00 AM

Pony Complex Fire PM Update August 13, 2013

The Pony Complex fire, about  12 miles Northeast of Mountain Home, ID, has consumed at least 143,900 acres with about 30 percent containment.

The Pony Complex Fire. Credit: Boise District/ Bureau of Land Management.

Fire Situation:

There was no reported change in acreage today due to smoke and thunderstorms in the area making aerial mapping unattainable. Fire behavior today remained active, running through grass and sage while backing across timbered areas. Some single tree torching and short range spotting was observed.  The fire is slowly progressing north, towards Blacks Creek. [Inciweb]

Wildfire Cause: Lightning
Date of Origin: Thursday August 08th, 2013 approx. 09:00 PM
Location: 12 miles northeast of Mountain Home, Idaho
Total Personnel:  342
Size:  143,900 acres
Percent Contained:  40%
Fuels Involved: Grass, sage with intermixed timber.
Fire Behavior:  Fire behavior remained active, running through grass and sage and backing through timber. Single tree torching and short range spotting was observed.
Growth Potential: High
Terrain Difficulty: High
Wind Conditions: 17 mph W
Temperature: 93 degrees
Humidity 8%

Related Links

• Disaster Declared in Elmore County, Idaho  August 13, 2013
• Idaho Wildfire Threatens Entire County August 12, 2013
• Idaho Town Evacuated as Wildfires Rage  August 10, 2013

Disaster Declared in Elmore County, Idaho

Gov. Otter issues a state disaster declaration in Elmore County

The Elk and Pony Complex fires have grown explosively, covering at least 240,000 acres, forcing mass evacuations and large area closures.

In addition to large numbers of mandatory evacuations, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office has urged other residents to leave the area to ensure the fire crews can focus on suppressing the fire, said a report.

The two fire complexes have destroyed or damaged dozens of structures, but the exact toll is not yet known/released.

More than two dozen wildfires in Idaho have scorched at least 400,000 acres since mid-July 2013.

The Elk Complex

Cause: Lightning
Date of Origin: Thursday August 08th, 2013 approx. 09:00 PM
Location: 10 miles southwest of Pine
Size: 90,249 acres
Percent Contained: 5%
Estimated Containment Date: Tuesday October 01st, 2013 approx. 12:00 AM
Total Personnel: 405

The Elk Complex Fire. Elk Statesman12. Night fire from Base Camp. The Incident Command Post threatened by the Elk Complex 08112013. Credit: Boise National Forest/ U.S. Forest Service.

The Elk Fire resulted from several lightning strike fires which burned together on the night of August 8th. Fuels continue to be extremely dry and when combining with steep terrain, is creating plume dominated fire behavior. Areas concern are the small settlement of Prairie on the west side of the fire and the Pine/Featherville corridor on the east side. The southern perimeter follows the South Fork of the Boise River from Smith Creek to the end of Anderson Ranch Reservoir near Pine. The fire continues to move up the river corridor on the west side from Pine towards Featherville. Primary objective is to secure the fireline between all homes/subdivisions and the mountains to the west. Securing Prairie homes and ranches is a high priority. Ultimately the plan is to push the northern portion of the fire into the Trinity fire from last year.

The Boise National Forest has expanded a large area closure that is described specifically in the CLOSURES portion of this site. A map of the closure area can be found under MAPS. The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office has a mandatory evacuation in effect from Hwy 20 to the Johnson Creek Bridge south of Featherville.

Stage I fire restrictions remain in effect including no campfires outside of an agency designated recreation site until further notice. For more information, please visit www.blm.gov/id.  [Inciweb]

The Pony Complex Fire

The Pony Complex fire, about  12 miles Northeast of Mountain Home, ID, has consumed at least 143,900 acres with about 30 percent containment.

The Pony Complex Fire. Credit: Boise District/ Bureau of Land Management.

The Mile Marker 111 Fire and the Mudd Fire burned together on Sunday and areas of the combined fire are still exhibiting high resistance to control. The fire is continuing to push to the south and east threatening the Highway 20 corridor.

• Numerous road closures and an area closure remain in effect.
• Burnout operations were conducted along Cow Creek Road in attempt to mitigate the fire from crossing Blacks Creek. 

Basic stats

• Start date: 8/8/2013
• Location: 12 miles Northeast of Mountain Home, ID
• Cause: Lightning
• Size: 143, 900
• Fuels: Grasses, sagebrush and pockets of timber
• Observed Fire Behavior: Extreme running fire spread
• Assigned Resources: 330 personnel
• Containment: 30%

Related Links

• Idaho Wildfire Threatens Entire County August 12, 2013
• Idaho Town Evacuated as Wildfires Rage  August 10, 2013

Idaho Wildfire Threatens Entire County

Elk Complex Fire consumes more than 80,000 acres, forces evacuations of 3 towns

The fast-growing Elk Complex, said to be nation’s No.1, has consumed more than 80,365 acres since late Thursday and is only 5% contained.

The massive fire complex has forced large-scale evacuations and threatens structure across Elmore County.

Two small towns of Pine and Prairie have been evacuated.

The Elk Complex fire.  Viewed from I-84, photo taken Saturday afternoon. Credit: Boise National Forest/U.S. Forest Service.

The Elk Complex is now estimated at 80,365 [acres] and 5% contained. After the inversion broke, sustained crown runs were observed. Plume dominated fire activity has made parts of the fire inaccessible. Many access roads into the fire area are impassible due to downed power lines, debris and fallen timber. The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office has implemented evacuations in the Pine area. Road closures include the Pine/Featherville Road, Cow Creek Road and Blacks Creek Road. The lodge in Fall Creek and approximately 20 structures were not damaged by the fire, but it is believed there is significant structure loss further up the drainage. Fire officials will gain access to assess the situation as soon as it is safe for them to enter the area. [More…]

The Pony Fire Complex

Meantime, the Pony Fire Complex continued to grow, consuming about 120,000 across and forcing the evacuations of hundreds of homes in Prairie and Mayfield, including the communities Baseline, Indian Creek and Regina.

The 119,543 acre Pony Complex is now 20 percent contained. Two cabins and an outbuilding in Syrup Creek were destroyed this morning as a result of the extreme fire behavior. Evacuations were ordered for the Syrup Canyon area. Multiple residences in Syrup Canyon and Miller Ranch were defended today. Evacuations were ordered including the community of Mayfield, Canyon Creek area and the Danskin and Bennett Mountain Lookouts. Livestock was continued to move from out in front of the fire. Numerous road closures are in effect along with an area closure. Firefighters remained on the fire last night and will tonight continuing to construct direct lines while securing and protecting structures.  [Inciweb]

Dozens of structure have been destroyed or damaged by the two fire complexes, but the exact toll is not yet known/released.

Related Links

• Idaho Town Evacuated as Wildfires Rage  August 10, 2013