Halstead Fire Update 9-20-2012
Incident: Halstead Wildfire
Released: 9/20/2012
Start Date: July 27, 2012 Cause: Lightning
Current Size: 172,128 acres Containment: 59%
Location: Approx.18 miles north of Stanley, Idaho
Jurisdiction: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Salmon-Challis National Forest
Resources on the fire: 117 personnel - 1 hand crew, 8 engines, and 2 helicopters
The Nip and Tuck Road (Forest Rd. 033) will open today at 0600 for NON-MOTORIZED traffic only. Cherry stems leading to the north of the road are still closed. Repairs from fire suppression activities are 80% complete. Rehab to fire areas caused by fire effects are yet to be addressed by an incoming Burned Area Emergency Rehab (BAER) Team. The Loon Creek Rd., Forest Rd. 172, remains closed from 9 am to 9 pm to allow for safe firefighting operations. The Closure starts above the Hecla Mine thru to the Loon Creek Guard Station.
What happened yesterday: An engine crew hiked up Blue Bunch Mtn. to mop up a 1/10 acre lightning fire with the assistance of a Type 3 helicopter using water drops. Early in the morning, firefighters looked for opportunities to go direct at the headwaters of Jordan Creek. Because of numerous spot fires in heavy timber, a Type 1 helicopter was utilized all day with bucket drops. Engine crews assessed structures at Echo Mine, looking at landslides and the Estes Mtn. Rd. as possible tie in areas. The handcrew, assisted by an engine, continued to work in the Marsh Creek area mopping up as needed. A road grader worked on the dirt roads along the Hwy 21 corridor to repair road damage. Collie Lake, Sawmill Creek and Pole Creek areas continue to burn, but are not moving aggressively.
The Plan for Today: The engine crew will be headed back to Blue Bunch Mtn. to finish work on the lightning fire there. The Type 1 helicopter will continue with water drops to check the advance of the fire in the headwaters of Jordan Creek. An additional Type 1 helicopter will be available in Challis if needed. The handcrew and engine will continue to secure and mop up the Marsh Creek area. Firefighters will continue to monitor activity at Collie Lake, Sawmill Creek and Pole Creek areas. The grader will continue working on roads along the Hwy 21 corridor.
Fire Weather: Temperatures are expected to be a few more degrees higher today with light north winds. Air quality below 7500-foot elevation will remain stagnant with reduced visibility. An inversion at 1300 feet above the valley is unlikely to lift today. The Stage I air quality advisory for Lemhi and Custer Counties remains in effect.
River Closure: The Salmon River is closed to floating from Buckhorn Bridge to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area eastern boundary from September 3-22 during salmon spawning. Bank fishing is open. The river will be open to all user groups as of September 23.
Closures: Along the Highway 75 Salmon River Corridor from Stanley to the Sawtooth NRA boundary, the following campgrounds are open and will be managed by the Sawtooth National Recreation Area through the end of hunting season: Casino, Mormon Bend, Upper O'Brien, Holman, and Whiskey Flat. For information and maps of the closure area visit: www.fs.usda.gov/sawtooth and www.fs.usda.gov/scnf . For a high resolution map of the closure area go to the Flickr site www.flickr.com/salmonchallisnf. For more information follow us on Twitter @scnf fire info. http://inciweb.org/incident/3062/ www.flickr.com/salmonchallisnf
