Cave Canyon Fire Grows to More Than 80,000 Acres
Incident: Minidoka Complex Wildfire
Released: 8/10/2012
·Fire Evacuations Remain In Effect for Rock Creek Canyon and Dry Creek Road·
Fire Information: 1-800-631-4874 or 1-800-592-9938
The Cave Canyon Fire of the Minidoka Complex has grown to 80,012 acres due to significant fire runs to the west and northwest overnight. Today scattered rain, higher humidities and cooler temperatures helped slow the spread in the northwest portion of the Cave Canyon Fire, helping firefighters gain some ground. Crews were putting in dozer line from Antelope Valley down to Dry Creek Road to create a fuel break.
The west and southwest portion of the fire remain active and fire has spread to between the Middle Fork and West Fork, which is within two miles of Schipper Campground in Rock Creek Canyon. Two hotshot crews new to the fire today are building line on the southwest side. Several additional aviation resources joined the fight today, including four modular airborne firefighting system (MAFFs), four single engine air tankers (SEATs) and a heavy helicopter.
Deer Hollow Fire: The fire is spreading rapidly and exhibiting extreme fire behavior. The fire has burned northeast to War Eagle Peak and south to Moberg Canyon. The latest acreage is 4,027.
Hot Well Fire: Crews are continuing to extinguish any hotspots along the edge of the fire line. The latest acreage is 3,056.
Additional information for all fires on the Minidoka Complex are at http://inciweb.org/incident/3116/.
Rock Creek Canyon closed on the Cave Canyon Fire - All National Forest System (NFS) lands within the following boundary. Beginning at the junction of the Rock Creek Road (County Road G3/NFS Road #515) and the Forest Boundary located in Township 12 south Range 19 east section 31 then southerly along and including all NFS Lands 500 feet west of the Rock Creek Road approximately 14 miles to the junction with Forest Road #538 then continuing southerly and easterly to the junction with Forest Road #538A including all NFS lands 500 feet west and south of Forest Road #538 the continuing east along Forest Road #538A to the junction with Forest Road #538 including all NFS Lands 500 feet west of Road #538A then along Forest Road #538 to the junction with Forest Road #533 including Forest Road #538 and all NFS Lands 500 feet to the south of Forest Road #533, then along Forest Road #500 to the Forest Boundary in Township 14 south Range 21 east Section 13, including all NFS Lands 500 feet south of Forest Road #500, then northerly and westerly along the National Forest Boundary to the point of origin. Including the following developed sites/campgrounds; Schipper, Harrington Fork, Steer Basin, Third Fork, Lower Penstemon, Upper Penstemon, Pettit, Diamondfield Jack, Porcupine Springs, FS Flats, Father and Sons, and Bostetter.
Area closures are also in effect for both fires on the Black Pine Division. Please see the official closure orders and maps on the Sawtooth National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/sawtooth or call the Minidoka Ranger District office at 208-678-0430.
