Tepee Springs Fire Update

Date of Detection: August 12, 2015

Current Size: est. 86,449 acres

Containment: 30%

Personnel: 838

Crews: 20                               

Helicopters: 9             

Engines: 49

Location: Along the Salmon River corridor, the fire is three miles east of Riggins. On the western flank along the river the fire is burning in Berg Creek. On the eastern flank along the river, the fire is one mile east of French Creek. The head of the fire is well established in Allison Creek and has reached Little Slate Creek- 4 miles west of Florence. The head of the fire on western flank is one mile east of the Chair Mountain Lookout.

A Community meeting will take place at the New Meadow High School in New Meadow on Tuesday, September 1 at 6 p.m.

Fire Update

Yesterday morning the inversion lifted by 11:30 and southwest winds increased causing the fire to become more active through the day especially in the northern area. These winds also caused short range spotting and group torching of trees.

Firefighters worked on extending containment line along on the western side of the fire using both dozer and hand lines. Most of the dozer line is completed. Crews continued mop up and started fire line rehabilitation in the southwestern area of the fire. Resources working in the Salmon River corridor continued structure protection. All aircraft, including the super scoopers on loan from Canada, were utilized for most of the day in supporting firefighting efforts with water drops and aerial surveillance.

Today, firefighters will continue securing the southwestern and southeastern flanks of the fire, while newly arrived resources will begin to focus on the northwestern portion. Firefighters will continue to work on structure protection along the Salmon River corridor and work to keep fire south of the river in the French Creek area. Crews will continue structure protection in the historic mining town of Florence. Mop up and fire line rehabilitation will continue in the southern most section of the fire- fire managers feel confident that containment lines this area will hold. Weather conditions should allow for utilization of all aircraft again today.

Firefighters continue to work closely with Idaho County Sheriff’s Office to escort rafters from the Salmon River corridor due to hazardous conditions created by the fire.

Weather

Lower humidity and warmer temperatures this afternoon will increase fire activity. The inversion is expected to break around 11:00 a.m. with southwest winds at 12 to 18 mph gusting to 24 mph. There is a 30% chance of rain showers Wednesday night into Thursday.

Evacuations

For further information on evacuations and notifications contact:

Adams County Sheriff: 208-253-4227

Idaho County Sheriff: Riggins, White Bird, Elk City areas: 800-922-9141; Grangeville, surrounding areas: 208-983-1100

Closures

The Nez Perce National Forest: Due to public safety concerns, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest officials closed all Forest Service managed lands, EXCEPT the Palouse Ranger District. The Nez Perce –Clearwater National Forest is requesting that recreationists relocate to areas outside of the forest lands. Forest visitors should be safely away from fire activity and should find alternate locations away from the Nez Perce-Clearwater national Forests at this time. Roadways are open for people leaving the Forest. For state and county road closures please contact your local sheriff’s office and the Idaho Transportation Department.

The Payette National Forest: The forest is closed in the vicinity of Tepee Springs Fire to public use. Campgrounds include: Hazard Campground, Grouse Campground, and Last Chance Campground. No public access is allowed past the junction of Brundage Reservoir and Goose Lake Road (Forest Road 257). Additionally all FS land west of Brundage Road to the Forest boundary in the Meadows Valley are closed.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM): All BLM managed lands east of Hwy 95 between Riggins Idaho and the Smokey Boulder Road north of New Meadows and BLM managed land south of the Salmon River Road (NF-1614) east of Riggins.

Salmon River Closure: The French Creek Road (FS Road 246) is currently closed due to fire activity. For those floaters that are coming out and the people that are shuttling them, there is a pilot car on the main Salmon River Road that is leading vehicles to egress and ingress into Vinegar Creek as fire activity allows.  

Food, water and support for rafters are being set up at Vinegar Creek if they are held due to fire activity that prevents them from safely being piloted from the area. All shuttles should be prepared to wait in Riggins. They will be allowed to enter when it is safe to travel into Vinegar Creek and will be escorted into the area by a pilot car.

Additional information regarding the Tepee Springs Fire can be found at www.inciweb.nwcg.gov,   and the Payette National Forest Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Forest-Service-Payette-National-Forest/667908866639038 .