Sawtooth National Forest

News Release

USDA Forest Service

Sawtooth National Forest

SAWTOOTH WILDERNESS FIRES CONTINUE TO BURN: NO PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED: HIKERS REQUESTED TO AVOID FIRE AREAS, FIRE WEAKENED TREES FALL WITHOUT WARNING

Stanley, ID, AUGUST 28, 2005

Smoke is still visible from the two wildfires burning in the Sawtooth Wilderness, although both fires are contained.
According to Bill Murphy, Fire Management Officer for the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA), people can expect to see smoke for the next several days. “Both of the fires continue to smolder and consume unburned islands of fuels within the perimeters of these fires,” Murphy stated. “There is a storm system coming into the area that could bring a very small amount of precipitation and much colder temperatures. This won’t put the fires out, but it will certainly slow down any burning activity.”
Murphy urged hikers and horseback riders to completely avoid both of the fire areas. “It is extremely dangerous in there right now,” he said. “There are number of fire weakened trees that are falling and will continue to fall without warning. Our Wilderness Rangers have flagged and placed closed signs on the affected trails. So, we are asking people to please stay clear of these areas.”
The four firefighters that have been fighting the Trailer Lake Fire, seven air miles southwest of Stanley, hiked out of the Wilderness today. The fire covers an area of approximately 20 acres.
According to Liese Dean, Wilderness Program Coordinator for the SNRA, only minimal impacts to wilderness values occurred on the Trailer Lake Fire. “Because this was a human-caused fire, we took immediate suppression action,” Dean said. “The firefighters assigned to this fire used ‘minimum impact suppression tactics’ in containing the fire. For example, even though helicopters were available, we used them only minimally in order to reduce aircraft noise to wilderness visitors. Only hand tools were used, no chainsaws. Instead of digging fire line on the north end, firefighters let the fire burn up to natural barriers, such as rock outcrops.”
The Low Pass Fire, approximately 10 air miles northwest of Alturas Lake, continues to meet the
objectives set forth in the Sawtooth and Wilderness Fire Management Plans. The fire is now estimated to be between twenty-five and thirty acres. The fire remains within the boundaries of the lake basin where it initially started. Barring any unseen developments, this fire could burn itself out or burn into the rocks over the next few days.
Fire managers will continue to monitor both fires from the air. However, instead of a daily flight, aerial reconnaissance flights will only be made every three to four days after the passage of the current, predicted storm front.
Wilderness Rangers continue to contact visitors in the area in an effort to provide current information regarding trail and fire conditions.