Porcupine Complex Daily Update 09.19.2012
Incident: Porcupine Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/19/2012
Porcupine Fire Complex
Nez Perce and Bitterroot National Forests
September 19, 2012 - 8:00a.m.
Information Officer: Brian Harris
Info Phone @ (208) 842-2725
Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
G-mail account: mcguirecomplex@gmail.com
Incident: The Porcupine Complex was started by lightning on 8/9.
Location: The Porcupine Complex is 25 miles east of Elk City, ID.
Agency Jurisdiction: USDA Forest Service, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
Cooperating Agencies: Idaho County Sheriff's Department
Incident Command Post: (ICP) is located at the old Red River Ranger Station.
Current Size: 23,852 acres
Containment: 0% Structures Threatened: 5
Activities: The Porcupine Complex burned actively on the northwest flank and pushed to Forest Road #285 (Green Mountain Road). Road #285 was temporary closed due to the fire activity and falling snags, but remains open to the public. Firefighters are assessing opportunities to contain the fire spread in the vicinity of Road #285. Travelers on Road #285 should expect delays. A Special Area Closure is in effect for the portions of the complex on the Nez Perce National Forest, and portions on the Bitterroot National Forest. Point protection of recreational and administrative facilities and removal of hazardous trees along road corridors continues to take place. Helicopter water drops will take place on hotspots to help prevent fire runs on values at risk.
Road Closures: The Magruder Corridor Road (Forest Road #468) is closed from the junction of the Green Mountain Road (Forest Road #285) to Observation Point for public safety due to fire activity. Through traffic to and from Montana to Idaho is closed!
Area Closures: Closures have been put in place. 581 and 575 trails and the spur road going up to Burnt Knob lookout have been closed. On the Nez Perce National Forest, Forest Road#285 is open with delays; Forest Road #357 is open; Forest Road #468 is open from its junction with Forest Road #222 to its junction with Forest Road #285. The Remainder of Forest Road #468 is closed; Forest Trail # 501 is open from 14-Mile Trailhead to Bargamin Creek; the 14-Mile Trailhead and Granite Springs Campgrounds are open. On the Bitterroot National Forest, Forest Road #468 is open from the West Fork Guard Station to Observation point, but is closed from Observation Point for the remainder of the Magruder corridor.
The Magruder Road is a 101 mile primitive road that winds through a vast undeveloped area with landscape that is much the same as when the Nez Perce Indians and other early travelers crossed the area. The road has changed little since the construction improvements performed by the CCC in the 1930s. Magruder Road has various names, but all are Forest Road #468. It is also known as: The Southern Nez Perce Trail; The Elk City to Darby Road; The Montana Road; and Parker Trail.
For further information, including specific details regarding the Area Closure, visit the InciWeb website: http://inciweb.org/incident/3171/
