Halstead Fire Final Daily Update 9-26
Incident: Halstead Wildfire
Released: 9/26/2012
Salmon-Challis National Forest
Halstead Fire Update
FINAL DAILY
September 26, 2012 - 0900
Halsteadfire2012@gmail.com
Fire Information: 208.774.0013 (9/26 only)
Challis/Yankee Fork Ranger District: 208.879.4100
Salmon-Challis National Forest: 208.756.5100/5145
Website: www.inciweb.org
Start Date: July 27, 2012 Cause: Lightning
Current Size: 179,305 acres Containment: 62%
Location: Approx.18 miles north of Stanley, Idaho
Jurisdiction: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Salmon-Challis National Forest
Resources on the fire: 66 personnel - 1 hand crew, 5 engines, and 3 helicopters
This will be the Final Daily Update. If significant activity occurs, additional updates will be distributed through the Challis/Yankee Fork Ranger District and posted to the website. Maps posted on inciweb.org dated 9/23/12 are the most recent maps showing fire progression and perimeter.Fire behavior within the Halstead fire has moderated significantly and the fire has largely held in place for several days. Most areas of the fire perimeter outside the wilderness where firefighters were working and engaged in suppression have been contained. Ground and air resources are monitoring the remaining uncontained areas of the fire perimeter. The vast majority of these areas are located adjacent to previous fire areas or natural rock barriers. Previously burned areas and rock barriers can act as a fire break, making the further spread of the fire into or past these areas less likely.
Large pockets of unburned vegetation remain within the fire perimeter, with hot areas scattered throughout which are capable of burning actively. It is anticipated these remaining uncontained areas will continue to burn until significant precipitation is received. Helicopters will be utilized to cool hot spots when needed. Travelers or residents may see smoke which will likely be from interior pockets of burning fuels that do not pose a threat to containment lines.
The Salmon-Challis National Forest will be reviewing the fire closures daily. When areas are considered safe for public use, closures will be lifted. For more information on closures call the numbers listed above or visit inciweb.org.
Businesses impacted by wildfires may contact the SBA (Small Business Administration) to apply for Economic Injury Disaster loans at: www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance, or call 800-659-2955.
What happened 9/25: Fire suppression repair work was completed in Rankin Creek, Virginia Subdivision, Bonanza and Rough Canyon Creek cabin. The headwaters of China Creek showed minimal fire activity. Stringers of trees, bounded by rocky areas, was the only activity observed in upper Jordan Creek. Mtn. King Mine area showed little activity after a heavy helicopter made several water drops. The helicopter also made drops in the Bear Valley Creek area, snuffing out fire activity.
The Plan for 9/26: The handcrew will finish repair work on the Seafoam road and Coal Creek off Hwy 75. Fire personnel will continue backhauling supplies and equipment from the Loon Creek and Seafoam areas. The remainder of the fire will be patrolled and monitored for fire activity which might compromise containment lines.
Fire Weather: Temperatures will remain about the same, highs in the upper 50's with relative humidities around 55%. Winds will be light from the north. A warming trend will develop later in the week, strengthening towards the weekend.
Closures: Bear Valley Creek Trail 012 is closed on the north side of the Fir Creek Campground bridge, closing access to the Bear Valley Creek hot springs and the location known as Big Hole. Access to Blue Bunch Mtn. via trail is still open. The Loon Creek Rd., Forest Rd. 172, remains closed from 9 am to 9 pm from the Hecla Mine through to the Loon Creek Guard Station to allow for safe firefighting operations. The Nip & Tuck Rd. (Forest Rd. 033) is open for non-motorized traffic only. All spur roads leading to the north of the main road are still closed.
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 .
Hunters: This Idaho Fish and Game website has information about hunting and issues with fire closure areas. https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/article/do-fire-closures-leave-you-hunting-spot-hunt
Maps: 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
