Incident Overview
There are currently 7 lightning caused wildfires burning on the West Fork Ranger District in wilderness areas. Several of the largest fires have combined with the Mustang Complex and Porcupine Complex Fires.
No structures have been lost. There are numerous road/trail closures. Several wilderness cabins/lookouts have been wrapped. See below for more information/acreage. Click on "maps" above to see the latest fire perimeter map of active fires burning in Idaho & Western Montana.
With archery and other hunting seasons beginning, Forest officials are reminding hunters to contact your local Forest Service office for the latest fire and area closure information. Call the West Fork Ranger District at 406-821-3269.
See below for fire location/acres:
Salamander/Porcupine Complex: The Porcupine Complex and the Salamander fires grew together on 9/7. For latest fire information visit www.inciweb.org and click on Porcupine Complex.
Due to active fire conditions, the Magruder Corridor Road is currently closed. For status on Nez Perce National Forest side of the road call (208) 842-2245. For current status on Montana side of the road call the West Fork RD at 406-821-3269.
Cabin Springs: The Cabin Springs fire has combined with the Mustang Complex fire. For latest fire information visit www.inciweb.org and click on Mustang Complex fire.
Hamilton. The Hamilton fire has combined with the Mustang Complex fire. For latest fire information visit www.inciweb.org and click on Mustang Complex fire.
Indian Ridge- 1,739 Acres. The fire is now burning along portions of the Selway Road. An assessment of Indian Campgound has been completed. Road patrols will be increased to monitor the fire's impacts to the road and to keep the road clear of debris. Signs and maps have been posted along the Selway Road at the Indian Creek Campground and all trails leading into the area. The fire has burned across Trail #10.
Burnt Strip- 3,220 Acres. The fire is burning on both sides of Trail #5 and Trail # 23 and is visible from Trail #10. The fire continues to move east towards Cooper Point and north into Peach Creek. All structure protection supplies are staged at the West Fork if needed. All trailheads leading into this area have had fire information posted.
Green Mountain- 2,950 Acres. The fire is burning on both sides of Trail #10 and has reached Trail #5. The fire has reached Burnt Strip Mountain and continues to move north into the headwaters of Snake Creek. Some movement to the west as occurred. This fire has had little growth the past few days. All trailheads leading into this area have had fire information posted.
Beaver Jack- 2,214 Acres. The fire is burning west of Trail 36 and north of Trail 13. The fire has moved down into Indian Creek and upslope onto a ridge north of Beaver Jack Mountain. Trailheads leading into the area have been posted.
Watchtower Lake- 1,038 Acres. The fire is burning on the Idaho side of Watchtower Lake. The fire is visible from the Boulder Pass and Watchtower Peak areas. Whitecap, Boulder Creek and Watchtower trailheads have been posted with fire information.
Cougar- 4,471 Acres. The fire is burning in Indian Creek, Schofield Creek and both forks of Sheephead Creek. The fire is on both sides of trails # 34, 32, & 142 and is close to impacting trail #16.
Ditch Fire- 3,856 Acres. The fire originated on the Nez Perce NF Moose Creek RD. The fire has crossed onto the West Fork RD and is burning along the west side of the Selway River. The fire has reached the North Star and Running Creek Ranches. Structure protection measures are in place for both ranches and any FS infrastructure. The fire has been active on Parachute Ridge and in Eagle Creek impacting Trails #532 and #562.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Location | Selway Bitterroot & Frank Church Wilderness Areas |
Current Situation
| Size | 20,000 acres |
|---|---|
| Fuels Involved | Timber with some dead standing timber - beetle killed. |
| Fire Behavior | Smoldering, creeping, with some isolated single tree torching. |
| Significant Events | Old fire scars from previous burns will limit current fire growth. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Monitor the fires daily by lookout, air and road patrols. Point protection strategy is in place and Management Action Points have been identified. The Forest will initiate structure protection if the fires move too close or threaten structures or values such as Horse Heaven Cabin or the Magruder Road Corridor. |
|---|---|
| Terrain Difficulty | Very remote and burning in steep, rugged terrain with some dead standing timber. |
| Remarks | Due to active fire conditions and expected future fire behavior from the Porcupine Complex fire, the Magruder Corridor Road #468 is currently closed from Observation Point to Sabe Saddle. Observation Point campground will remain open. For the latest road information contact the West Fork Ranger District at 406-821-3269. |
