Weekly Fire Update
IDL's second team fire, the Tyson Fire, started near the end of last week. It is 50% contained and managed by a local IDL Type 3 Incident Management Team. The incident will likely transfer back to the area on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Goldrun Fire is 100% contained and is being mopped up.
View the Most Current Wildfire Report on IDL's Fire News Feed
Fire Restrictions
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions were implemented today in the Central Idaho Fire Restrictions Area on all lands managed by or are under the fire protection of Idaho Department of Lands, Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, or other tribal or federal agencies..
Fire danger across east-central Idaho is VERY HIGH. Rangelands and forested lands at all elevations are dry. Fire management officials are hopeful that by initiating Stage 1 fire restrictions, there will be fewer human-caused wildland fires.
Current fire restrictions can be found on the IDL website.
IDL Fire Investigators Seek Help Identifying the Cause of the Candle Hill Fire
On Saturday, July 15, IDL firefighters were dispatched to a suspicious wildfire on Granite Mountain east of Highway 95 and Kelso Lake in Bonner County.
With the help of extensive and expensive air support, firefighters contained the Candle Hill fire at just seven acres.
The cause of this fire is under investigation and IDL investigators have sought the public's help to determine how the fire started. IDL sent a news release asking for information and/or photos of the fire taken close to the time of ignition.
IDL Offers Arborist Certification Preparation Workshops and Testing
IDL's Urban and Community Forestry Program is offering another round of workshops aimed at preparing arborists to take the International Society of Arboriculture certification exam. Two workshops will be offered in September - one in southern Idaho and one in North Idaho.
There is no charge for arborists to attend the course. Attendance is limited and continuing education credits will be available for those who are already certified.
Admission is prioritized for those who are not certified but scheduled to take the test.
Because an IDL Team Member Asked for It...
This groaner is for those who have taken, or are preparing to take, the International Society of Arboriculture certification exam...
Director Miller's Favorite Dad Joke This Week:
Q: What do arborists eat when they are studying for their ISA certification exam
A. Academia nuts.
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Goldrun Fire 100% Contained, Transferred Back to IDL's Southwest Supervisory Area
Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) Southwest Forest Protective District (FPD) transferred management to a Great Basin Regional Management Type 3 Incident Management Team (Julia Lauch I.C.) on July 20. Management was returned to the district on July 26. The fire was 100% contained at 799 acres.
ITD, IDL Kick Off Long-Term, Ground Applied Fire Retardant Pilot Project
This week Idaho Transportation Department and IDL kicked off a pilot project to test the efficacy of long-term, ground applied fire retardant along the I-84 Corridor between Boise and Mountain Home.
The pilot area was selected due to its historically high volume of roadside ignitions and associated GIS-based data that will aid in evaluating the project.
Research has found the corridor is a hotspot in the nation when it comes to fire frequency. Historically, eighty percent of the fires in the area were human-caused, often by vehicles with faulty trailer bearings, flat tires or overheated catalytic converters.
Crews from the contracted vendor, Perimeter Solutions, trained state personnel on how to safely mix and apply the retardant. For the initial phase of the pilot, ITD first mowed stretches along the highway then Perimeter Solutions applied the retardant to an approximately 20' wide swath of weedy roadside stubble. Later this season the application area will be evaluated for roadside fire ignitions.
The retardant dries clear and is advertised to protect fine fuels from igniting for at least several months in dry climates like southwest Idaho.
Perimeter Solutions has facilities in Post Falls and Pocatello, along with multiple tanker bases and mobile facilities across the state.
IDL is grateful for the support of Governor Little and the Idaho Legislature, especially Sen. Van Burtenshaw, in funding this innovative pilot project. During this era of extreme fire danger, it's important that Idaho bolster suppression and mitigation resources, and explore new solutions to addressing wildfire threats.
Doubling Down on Dad Jokes
Just when you thought the jokes couldn't get worse...
Q: What did the arborist say to Yoda?
A: May the forest be with you!
Governor, State Officials Meet with Hayden Fire Incident Commander
Yesterday IDL facilitated a meeting between Governor Little and Mike Johnstone, incident commander over the Great Basin Team 7 charged with suppressing the Hayden Fire. They were joined by District 31 legislators Sen. Van Burtenshaw, Rep. Jerald Raymond and Rep. Rod Furniss, along with IDL Director Dustin Miller.
The Hayden Fire, a 14,745 acre incident that ignited on July 19, is located in the Lemhi Range, 18 miles west of Leadore, Idaho. The fire is burning in steep and difficult terrain with spruce/subalpine fir containing a heavy dead/down timber component.
This incident is on land protected by the U.S. Forest Service.
Later that day Governor Little expressed his appreciation for Team 7, tweeting "thank you to the hardworking firefighters and support crew working to contain the fire! Idaho stands ready to help the Forest Service with containment efforts."
Director Miller Attends Idaho Outdoor Recreation Fund Advisory Council Signing
On Wednesday Governor Little signed an executive order establishing the Idaho Outdoor Recreation Fund Advisory Council as the group tasked with expanding access and opportunities on state and other public lands in Idaho.
In concert with the council, IDL along with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and Idaho Department of Fish and Game will collaborate to propose projects, manage under-utilized resources to enhance recreational access, and monetize outdoor recreation for long-term sustainability.
Funding for the council comes from Senate Bill 1196 which appropriated $5 million for FY 2024.
The council's 14 members will include individuals representing Idaho's natural resource agencies (Lands, Parks and Fish and Game), members of the Idaho Legislature and stakeholder representatives.
In Case You Missed It
Here's a recap of other recent IDL newsletters you may find interesting:
One Team One Voice Newsletter Archive
Did you miss some important news? Are you curious about knowing what's happening across IDL? Our One Team, One Voice webpage contains an archive of IDL's newsletters covering:
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