Fire Update at 9 PM August 7
Incident: Springs Fire Wildfire
Released: 8/7/2012
The estimated 2000 acre Springs Fire rapidly increased in size this afternoon and it affected road use. Conditions changed rapidly during the day. Highway 17 between Banks and Garden Valley is currently open with traffic control from milepost 1.4 and 5.2. Traffic is one lane and is being escorted by a pilot car. Delays are about 20 minutes. It was briefly closed late in the afternoon due to snag trees being dropped. It could close again intermittently based on fire activity.
Highway 55 is closed about one mile north of Banks from MP 80 to 84. It will be closed indefinitely due to excessive rock fall on the highway. The fire has reached the highway in a few places and is burning above it within that section. Idaho Department of Transportation is coordinating the traffic flow on the highway. Check with IDT for re-opening.
The fireline held today on the east flank, which was about ½ mile from the Frazier Creek rural subdivision. Crews continued work throughout the day along that east flank which is a priority area. No other structures are threatened. The fire is 5 percent contained.
There is no estimate of containment. A Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered due to the increasing complexities of the incident. Nearly 200 fire fighters are battling the blaze, with seven crews, five engines, three helicopters and air tankers as requested by the Incident Commander.
Very hot temperatures challenged firefighters today. The fire is in extremely steep terrain with an elevation change of nearly 3000 feet from the bottom to the top of the fire. It is burning in a mixture of grass, brush and pockets of timber.
Rafters on the South Fork Payette River will need to use caution traveling the river where the helicopters are dipping. The river is currently open.
The entire Boise National Forest is very dry and citizens are reminded to be extremely careful with fire and other activities while enjoying the National Forests. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will likely be expanded to include the entire Boise National Forest later in the week. Under Stage 1, campfires are only allowed in developed recreation sites and smoking restrictions apply
