Salmon-Challis National Forest

News Release

Salmon Interagency Dispatch
Salmon-Challis National Forest
Upper Columbia - Salmon Clearwater District BLM

Fire Season Has Arrived

Salmon, Idaho: June 23, 2003

The Mackay area had three small lightning caused fires on June 15 and 16. The Mine Hill fire burned ¼ acre in grass and sage and was extinguished by the USFS Mackay fire engine Sunday evening. The Sunset fire was 1/10 acre burning in Pinyon/Juniper fuels before it was declared controlled on Tuesday morning. And the Jump Off fire was 1/10 acre, also controlled Tuesday.

The boisterous lightning storm that passed through Salmon around 10:30 pm Tuesday the 17th produced at least two fires on the North Fork RD that were detected by aerial reconnaissance. The Irishman Rock fire, near the Idaho/Montana border ten miles north of the Indianola Helitack base, burned ¼ acre, and was declared controlled on 6/20. Firefighters from the Bitterroot National Forest assisted Moyer helitack in controlling this fire. The Goat Fire, in the Frank Church River of No Return wilderness, is two miles southeast of the confluence of the Middle Fork and Main Salmon rivers. It is being managed for resource benefits and has shown little activity over the weekend.

The Boomerang fire is near the far western side of the SCNF boundary on the Middle Fork Ranger District. It is burning in one tree surrounded by snow banks and is also being managed for resource benefits, also with little activity.

Later in the week two additional fires were discovered, the Challis Lakes fire on the Challis RD was detected by an aerial detection flight Friday 6/20. The fire was caused by lightning striking a dead pine tree and was put out by the Challis RD fire engine crew on Friday evening. The East Boulder fire burning on a ridge across from the Indianola helitack base on the North Fork RD was discovered Sunday 6/22 as the Indianola helicopter was returning from Utah. The fire was burning in a single tree and was put out by the Indianola helitack crew the same evening.

The cooler weather has reduced the fire danger on the northern part of the Forest to low but as the temperature rises the fire danger will increase. The fire danger on the southern part of the forest is currently moderate. Please continue to be careful with fires and as the Fourth of July approaches, remember fireworks are prohibited on the National Forest.