Payette Fire Information

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If you wish to continue to receive these Fire Updates, do nothing.  The Payette National Forest sends out Daily Fire Information Updates as wildfire activity takes place on the Forest.  New this year, the Payette Dispatch Center has become Interagency, and wildfires that occur on private lands protected by the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association will also be included in these Fire Updates.  Wildfires that occur on lands managed by the BLM, and by the Idaho Department of Lands that are within the response areas of the Payette National Forest will also be include in these Fire Updates.

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Payette National Forest Enters Fire Season – Sources for

Fire Information Available

McCall, ID – So far this year, the Payette National Forest has responded to two lightning caused and one human caused wildfires.  All three fires were kept to less than .10 of an acre and suppressed with our initial attack resources.  The Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association has also responded to three wildfires – all lightning caused and kept to less than .10 of an acre.

We expect a “normal” wildland fire season across the Payette National Forest this fire season, which typically starts in June and ends in late September or early October with a “season ending” weather related event.  The height of the fire season in central Idaho typically begins in mid to late July.

“A normal fire season for us means that we will have wildfires across the Forest,” said Sean Johnson, Payette National Forest Fire Management officer.  “In a normal fire season we see as many as 100 wildfires.”  Predicted weather over the summer months indicates that we may have large fire activity on the Forest, but the danger for large wildfire activity is less this year than it was last year.

“We had a good snow pack in the mountains this past winter, but the hot weather we had in early June quickly melted the snow in higher elevations.  Those warm temperatures increased water runoff from the mountains during late May and early June, which is not good for keeping heavy fuels wet as the heat of summer approaches,” added Johnson.  The early runoff promoted the growth of fine fuels such as grasses across the Forest which can cause a wildfire to spread quickly.

For members of the public that want to know about wildfires occurring across the Forest, several method are available. To report a wildfire, be sure to call Payette Interagency Dispatch at 208-634-2757

• Fire Information Hotline:  208-634-0820
• The fire information hotline has the most up to date information about fires burning on the Forest.  This is a recorded message during times of minimal fire activity, then will be the phone number to our fire information center if/when we have larger fires on the Forest. 

• Email Distribution:  During times of heightened fire activity on the Forest, we distribute fire information daily via email using GovDelivery.  GovDelivery was used on the Forest last year, and those signed up from last year will continue to receive updates.  To learn how to register for fire information via GovDelivery, click this link, or send an email request to payettefireinformation@gmail.com. 

• Internet based fire information:  The Forest uses two internet based systems for fire information.
• Inciweb is used for “large fires” that are over 100 acres in size, and to track wildfires that are burning in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  Once on the Inciweb page, filter the wildfires by State to view Idaho.  http://inciweb.nwcg.gov
• IdahoFireInformation – this is an interagency website developed by federal and state agencies in Idaho to provide timely and accurate information of wildland fires, fire restrictions, and prevention and education across the state.   Once on the page, note the link in the upper left of the home page for the "Payette Dispatch" center.  This link will take you to a page that is specific to wildfires on the Payette National Forest and Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association (SITPA). http://www.idahofireinfo.com 

• Social Media:  The Payette National Forest uses Facebook and Twitter for posting fire information.  Follow us on Facebook, (search for U.S. Forest Service – Payette National Forest), and on Twitter (#payetteForest).

For Information about smoke, visit these web sites:  

• Statewide Daily Air Quality and Forecast provided by Idaho DEQ: http://www.deq.idaho.gov/air-quality/monitoring/daily-reports-and-forecasts
• National Smoke Information provided by the US Department of Environmental Quality: https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_state

For Information on potential highway closures or restrictions, visit the Idaho Department of Transportation road report page at:  http://www.511.idaho.gov/

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