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/ 

Wednesday, August 7, 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.

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 25,921 acres (increase of 118 acres) with 8 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 was a productive day for firefighters. Crews and equipment made good progress on firelines throughout the fire area supported by helicopters. Fixed-wing air tankers have limited availability due to increased needs on new fires across the region. An agency drone flew a reconnaissance mission yesterday to gather intelligence and reduce risk to firefighters. Structure protection remains in place in Bear, Cuprum, Paradise Flat, Ditch Creek, Wildhorse, Mill Creek and OX Ranch. 

On the northern flank, the fire slowly spread in the Kinney Creek drainage west of the Horse Mountain Lookout. The majority of the fire growth occurred in this area yesterday and overnight. However, the fire is still about a half mile from the lookout. Crews completed and improved handline and bulldozer line north of Cuprum up to the lookout. 

On the eastern flank, crews held and conducted mop up along a fireline north of Boulder Creek. A drone with an infrared camera flew the fireline west of Cuprum along Indian Creek down to Boulder Creek confluence and some heat was detected. Crews continued to improve a contingency fireline between Forest Road 071 and Indian Creek/Huntley Gulch and a contingency fireline west of Bear using bulldozers, a feller buncher (logging equipment) and other heavy equipment. Crews continued to construct contingency fireline north of Bear toward Black Lake Road.

On the southeastern flank near Barber Flat, a hotshot crew improved and mopped up handlines around a spot fire in Flat Creek Canyon. Crews also improved and mopped up along bulldozer lines in Barber Flat.

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.

Thirteen hand crews, 24 engines, ten bulldozers, five helicopters and 607 people are working on the Limepoint Fire. With increased numbers of people and equipment working on the fire, more will be working on the northern flank to improve firelines north of Cuprum up to Horse Mountain Lookout. Crews are considering strategic firing operations in this area to remove unburned vegetation between the fireline and the fire edge. They will likely use drones to help with this firing operation. 

On the eastern flank, crews will continue mopping up a 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. 

On the southeastern flank, crews will continue improving and mopping up handlines around a spot fire in Flat Creek Canyon. Crews will also improve and mop up along bulldozer lines in Barber Flat and along a strip of timber near Elk Creek. 

On the western flank, firefighters will continue to mop up and check for hot spots along the Snake River.

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 will have calmer weather, with a shift in wind direction from northeast in the morning to west-northwest winds throughout the day, 4 to 7 mph with gusts up to 12 mph. This will usher in slightly cooler and drier air. Expect temperatures to climb into the mid to upper 80s. Relative humidity will be drier between 15 and 20 percent. There will be haze from new fires to our west.

Dead and down fuels will continue to dry, making all types of vegetation available to burn. In heavy grass, a new start could burn 160 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. North winds could push fire toward Barber Flat, Wildhorse and Salt Creek, if uncontained. 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 Campgrounds is also closed. For more information, see the full closure orderand map at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/payette/fire.

Kleinschmidt Grade (Forest Road 050), Calf Pen Road and Landore Roads 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.