Single Publication

Limepoint and Cliff Mountain Fires

Fire Information 208-992-3032

2024.limepoint@firenet.gov

Limepoint: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idpaf-limepoint-fire

Cliff Mountain: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idpaf-cliff-mountain

https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/

Thursday, August 8, 2024

The Limepoint and Cliff Mountain Fires are burning in the Hells Canyon area, located on the Payette National Forest in west-central Idaho, east of the Snake River bordering Oregon.

Note: Tomorrow, Friday August 9, a public update about the Limepoint and Cliff Mountain Fires will be held at 7:00 pm via Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/payettenationalforest/). 

Limepoint Fire

The Limepoint Fire is west of Cuprum and Bear communities to the Snake River in Adams County, Idaho and was started by lightning on July 24th, burning in tall grass, brush and timber. The southern part of the fire was once a smaller, separate fire named the Oxbow Fire, but both fires burned together and are now collectively known as the Limepoint Fire. It is now 26,795 acres (an increase of 874 acres) with 10 percent containment. The fire threatens homes in several areas, including Cuprum, Bear, Wildhorse, Paradise Flat and Ditch Creek. Idaho Power transmission lines to the south of the fire are threatened. 

Yesterday fire behavior was moderate, and firefighters held firelines with the help of helicopters. Good progress was made holding and improving firelines at the south end of the fire. Structure protection remains in place in Bear, Cuprum, Paradise Flat, Ditch Creek, Wildhorse, Mill Creek and OX Ranch. 

On the northern flank, heat was observed in scattered timber with active runs. Helicopters helped reduce fire spread in this area and crews extinguished hot spots overnight. The contingency line along Grassy Ridge is complete and the road to Sheep Rock was improved. 

On the eastern flank, crews conducted mop up and held a fireline north of Boulder Creek. Firefighters observed heat and smoke in this area, where a pocket of green vegetation continues to burn. Engines mopped up areas of heat on the west side of Cuprum. Structure protection specialists identified additional structures to protect in Bear.

On the southeastern flank firefighters continued to improve fireline in the Flat Creek and Elk Creek areas. Firefighters flew over this area and observed no fire activity and much of the fireline in this area is considered contained. 

The southwestern flank near Oxbow and western flank along Forest Road 454 (Hells Canyon Road) south of Big Bar had minimal fire activity yesterday. Several areas along the Snake River on the western flank are contained.

14 hand crews, 26 engines, seven bulldozers, three helicopters, two skidders, four masticators, five feller-bunchers, one excavator, and 644 people are working on the Limepoint Fire. On the northern flank, crews will continue to maintain firelines. Fire in heavy timber is expected to be slowed by areas of regrowth and old fire footprints. Firefighters are improving fireline throughout this area to prepare for strategic burning operations at the northernmost area of the fire, which may span over several days. This operation may begin today by firing south of Grassy Ridge and helicopters will use water to pretreat the area to prevent fire spotting over the line. Firefighters will also look at burning south from Horse Mountain Lookout this afternoon, to secure the line from the lookout towards Cuprum. A drone may be used for aerial ignition in these areas. 

On the eastern flank, crews will continue mopping up and securing fireline north of Boulder Creek and along Forest Road 071. They will also continue improving a contingency fireline west of Bear and lengthening this contingency fireline north toward Black Lake Road using bulldozers, a feller buncher and other heavy equipment. Firefighters continue to monitor hot spots along Indian Creek up to Cuprum. Structure protection specialists will protect additional structures in Bear.

On the southeastern flank, hotshot crews will continue to improve and mop up handlines and bulldozer lines to hold the fire within lines in the Flat Creek and Bear Creek drainage. 

On the western flank, due to lack of fire activity along the Snake River, firefighters and equipment will be reassigned to other priority areas of the fire today.  

Cliff Mountain Fire

The Cliff Mountain Fire started by lightning on July 25th in Hells Canyon National Recreation Area in wilderness just below Hells Canyon Dam 25 miles east of Joseph, Oregon in Adams and Idaho Counties, Idaho. It also was once two fires, the Muddy Fire and the Cliff Mountain Fire, which burned into each other. It is 1,108 acres with 20 percent containment, burning mostly in wilderness, with growth slowed in some areas due to steep rocks. Hells Canyon Dam and associated powerlines are threatened by the fire. Minimal fire activity was observed in the interior of this fire yesterday. No personnel are assigned to the fire. 

Weather/Fire Behavior: Today is forecasted to be warm with increasing cloud cover, with a slight chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs will be in the upper-80s, while relative humidity will be 10-15%. Downslope northeast winds in the morning will become west-northwest by late morning with gusts near 15 mph during the afternoon. 

Dead and down fuels will continue to dry, making all types of vegetation available to burn. In heavy grass, a new start could burn 440 acres in an hour if undetected. Minimal fire activity is expected today along the Snake River north of Oxbow; however, material could continue to roll down onto Hells Canyon Road. In the northern, eastern, and southern flanks of the fire, interior burning and spotting is likely, although fire activity is expected to be minimal. The Cliff Mountain Fire is expected to have minimal fire activity.

Air quality information is available at www.airnow.gov and www.wildlandfiresmoke.net. 

Evacuations: Level 3 (Go Now!) evacuations are still in effect for Cuprum, Bear, Wildhorse and Barber Flats per Adams County Sheriff’s Office. A Level 2 (Get Set - Be prepared to leave) evacuation notice is in effect for Ditch Creek and Paradise Flat, and a Level 1 (Get Ready) is in effect for Mill Creek. If you have evacuated areas under Level 3 evacuations, please do not go back. Fire personnel work closely with the sheriff’s office with recommendations to reenter evacuated areas when safe to do so.

Closures and Restrictions: The Payette National Forest issued a Forest Closure to protect public safety during the Limepoint and Cliff Mountain wildfires. The closure includes, but is not limited to, the following recreation areas: Big Bar, Black Lake, Sheep Rock, Kinney Point and Horse Mountain Lookout. Huckleberry Campground is also closed. For more information, see the full closure order and map at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/payette/fire.

Kleinschmidt Grade (Forest Road 050), Calf Pen Road and Landore Road are closed. The Council-Cuprum Road is closed at the Forest boundary at the snowmobile parking lot. Forest Road 454, which runs along the river, is open, but please drive with caution. You may see active fire, rolling debris, firefighting equipment and firefighters on and along the road. For your safety and the safety of firefighters, do not stop on the road.

A temporary flight restriction is in effect in and around the fire area. This includes use of personal drones. If you fly, we cannot fly.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect for the Payette National Forest and all state, private and BLM lands in the fire area. Prohibited: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site, or on your own land, and only within a permanent landowner-provided structure; and smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.