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/ 

Saturday, August 3, 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. Yesterday under Red Flag conditions the fire crossed several firelines on the Limepoint Fire and grew 3,000 acres, mostly on the northern and eastern flanks. This morning, Adams County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 3 (Go Now!) evacuation for residents in Wildhorse and Level 1 (Get Ready) for Mill Creek. Level 3 (Go Now!) evacuations are still in effect for Cuprum and Bear, and Level 2 (Get Set - Be prepared to leave) are in effect for Ditch Creek and Paradise Flat. If you have evacuated areas under Level 3 evacuations, please do not go back.

Limepoint Fire 

The Limepoint Fire is north of Oxbow Dam 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 22,377 acres with no 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. 

The fire was very active yesterday and grew to the north and southeast. “The fire is moving across the landscape, and we’re doing our best to keep up with it,” said Josh Graham, Operations Section Chief. Aircraft, including three helicopters, multiple large air tankers, four single engine air tankers and two “super scoopers” worked throughout the fire to support ground crews and equipment. The large air tankers dropped retardant on areas on the southeastern flank, including the Bear Creek/Wildhorse areas to protect threatened structures. 

The southeast flank of the fire was a focus yesterday as it crossed firelines and threatened structures and high-tension powerlines to the south. It crossed firelines south of Forest Road 071 (Calf Pen Road) west of Bear Creek. Firefighters repositioned from Bear to Paradise Flat and Ditch Creek to protect structures threatened in these areas. Overnight, crews established firelines around the northern edge of new growth near Bear Creek, which moved south across Forest Road 581 into timber stringers near Flat Creek.  

On the east flank, the fire was also very active near Boulder Creek and made a run towards firelines on the eastern side. The fire spotted across a bulldozer line in one location, but crews were able to put fireline around it. They conducted tactical burning along Forest Road 071 to help stop further growth in this area.  

On the north flank, the fire grew in Allison Creek to within one mile of Horse Mountain Lookout. The fire has reached Kinney Creek to the north of the lookout.  

The southwest flank near Oxbow and west flank along Forest Road 454 (Hells Canyon Road) had minimal fire activity yesterday.  

Eight hand crews, 13 engines, five bulldozers, four helicopters and 405 people are working on the Limepoint Fire. Structure protection will expand to include newly threatened structures. Areas where structure protection specialist will work to assess and conduct structure protection include Bear, Cuprum, northeast of Cuprum, Paradise Flat, Ditch Creek, and around Horse Mountain Lookout. 

In the southeast flank, south of Forest Road 071 near Bear Creek, firefighters will improve new firelines established last night and will begin putting in lines directly at the southern edge of new growth to protect structures and powerlines.  

On the east flank, crews will improve the fireline north of Boulder Creek between Forest Road 71 and Indian Creek. They plan to construct handline from a bulldozer line off the ridge down to Indian Creek to complete fireline north of Boulder Creek. With anticipated north winds this evening, conditions may be favorable to conduct burning operations to consume unburned vegetation south of this line to secure it. Firefighters will improve fireline from Forest Road 071 to the Indian Creek/Huntley Gulch confluence, with anticipation of possible strategic burning operations in upcoming days. Crews will also improve a contingency line west of Bear.  

Firefighters will assess fire growth on the north flank near Kinney Creek to determine options for indirect firelines along defensible ridges and natural barriers.  

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

Cliff Mountain Fire 

The Cliff Mountain Fire started 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 no 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 on the fire yesterday with only a few areas showing smoke. One ground personnel is assigned to the fire, and two field observers have been ordered. Firefighters are identifying values near the fire and planning future protection. 

Weather/Fire Behavior: Today will have another Red Flag Warning due to thunderstorms late Saturday evening until Sunday morning. Maximum temperatures will reach 97 and minimal relative humidity will be 20 percent. Winds were from the north this morning but will shift southwest 1 to 6 mph and upslope through the day. However, during the evening, winds will shift to out of the northeast increasing to 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Outflow winds from thunderstorms could gust up to 60 mph in any direction. 

Dead and down fuels will continue to dry, making all types of vegetation available to burn. In heavy grass, a new start could burn 550 acres in an hour if undetected. Unburned areas along the Snake River corridor could result in rapid uphill runs where fuels are available. Roll out of burning debris downslope along the northern flanks of the fire could cause fire spread into unburned fuels and result in rapid uphill runs. Steep terrain and dense stands of understory brush and timber on the northern flank could send embers half a mile or more into receptive fuels. On the east side of the fire near Cuprum, areas that have held heat for several days will become active as the day goes on. Spotting across eastern and southeastern firelines is possible as conditions warm throughout the day. Unburned fuel on the southern flank of the fire has potential to support rapid uphill spread if fire can get established. Steep and rugged terrain in the Cliff Mountain Fire pose challenges for firefighter access if the fire spots outside of its current footprint. 

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

Evacuations: The communities of Cuprum and Bear and one residence south of Calf Pen Road and north of Wildhorse have been evacuated under a Level 3 evacuation (Go Now!) per Adams County Sheriff’s Department. Ditch Creek and Paradise Flat are under a Level 2 evacuation (Be prepared to leave). 

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: Black Lake, Sheep Rock, Kinney Point and Horse Mountain Lookout. Big Bar is open. 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 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.  

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.