BY KAREN BOSSICK
The Bureau of Land Management Shoshone Field Office has lifted the emergency closure of 3,840 acres of BLM lands adjacent to the Stewart Creek Fire area in Camas County.
The emergency closure included BLM-managed lands south of the Sawtooth National Forest-Fairfield Ranger District boundary and north of State of Idaho Endowment Lands within the Chimney Creek area north of Hill City.
Chimney Creek Road has also been reopened by Camas County.
Sawtooth National Forest lands in the area northwest of Fairfield are still closed, however.
“It’s important to avoid the burned area as firefighters continue to work hot spots, rehabilitate disturbed areas and address potential safety hazards like snags and rolling debris along roads and trails,” said Shoshone field Manager Codie Martin.
- The Bible Back Fire in the White Cloud Mountains near Smiley Creek has been “very quiet” with the cooler temperatures and even a little snow at higher elevations. But Red Flag weather conditions the past couple days with wind gusts over 25 miles per hour has caused the fire to flare up in spots.
The lightning-caused fire, which is not being actively fought, is now 3,100 acres. Closures remain in effect in the areas of Fourth of July and Washington lakes and the Chamberlain Basin.
- The human-caused Wapiti Fire near Grandjean is now 4,571 acres and 80 percent contained. It is expected to be fully contained by Oct. 1.
The Grandjean Road is open but the Sacajawea Hot Springs area remains closed, as are the trails leading to popular recreation areas like Alpine and Sawtooth lakes. Three cabins and an out building were lost in the fire.
DID YOU KNOW?
The BLM manages 245 million acres of public land primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate through the nation. Activities authorized on these lands generated $96 billion in sales of goods and services throughout the American economy in fiscal year 2017 and supported more than 486,000 jobs.