Wildfire

This will be the final update for the Goat Fire unless significant activity occurs. Heavy equipment, ground and felling crews worked hard in steep, rugged terrain over the last few weeks to create safe access to and from the fire, construct contingency lines, and aggressively seek and eliminate heat sources near the fire’s edge. Repair work from suppression activities will continue into the near future. Recent weather and natural barriers have assisted firefighters in accelerating these efforts and minimizing fire behavior. An infrared flight over the area on August 8th revealed no heat signatures and fire activity is minimal.  Small amounts of smoke may still be visible as interior islands of unburned vegetation continue to smolder.  The fire will be monitored just in case a low probability event occurs and it escapes control features. Area closures have been lifted, allowing the public back into the interior of the Flint Creek Mountains.  If you have further questions...

This will be the final update for the Goose Fire unless significant activity occurs. The Goose Fire is currently 7,522 acres and 90% contained as of August 9, 2021. The fire was ignited by lightning on July 1, 2021 32 miles SSE of Ennis, MT near Hoodoo Pass. Initial attack forces responded to suppress the fire, initially located in a 250-acre rock slide area, inaccessible to crews. On July 9, the fire moved eastward into the Lost Spring drainage south of Cliff Lake and north of Hidden Lake and up onto the Hidden Lake Plateau. Several air tankers dropped retardant to slow further progression. Joe Sampson’s Type 2 Northern Rockies Wildland Fire Management Team 5 assumed command of the fire at 6 am MDT on July 10, extending containment lines around the north, south, and east flanks. The fire is currently being managed by a local Type 4 Incident Management

This will be the final update for the Gatlin Gulch Fire unless significant activity occurs. Fire crews and heavy equipment, along with assistance from aviation resources, worked to create and improve safe access to and from the fire, construct fireline, and aggressively eliminate heat sources near the fire’s edge. Repair work from suppression activities will continue into the near future, and crews will continue to patrol the fire. At this time, fire activity is minimal with no visible smoke in the fire area. Small amounts of smoke may become visible with an increasing warming trend later this week, however crews will continue to monitor the fire. Road and trail closures have been lifted, allowing access to the public. If you have further questions related to the Gatlin Gulch Fire, please contact the Butte Ranger District at 406-494-2147.

Mack Mountain Fire started August 5, 2021 and is burning 20 miles north of Kettle Falls, WA on the Colville National Forest.  Northwest Incident Management Team 7 assumed command August 21, 2021 at 7:00 am.  The lightning caused fire are burning in steep, rugged terrain with limited access.  Area and road closures are in place.  Boulder Creek Hwy and State Route 395 remain open.  The incident command post is located at the community college of Spokane in Colville, WA.

The Bulldog Mountain & Mack Mountain Fires started August 5, 2021 and are burning 20 miles north of Kettle Falls, WA on the Colville National Forest.  Northwest Incident Management Team 7 assumed command August 21, 2021 at 7:00 am.  The lightning caused fires are burning in steep, rugged terrain with limited access.  Area and road closures are in place.  Boulder Creek Hwy and State Route 395 remain open.  The incident command post is located at the community college of Spokane in Colville, WA.

On July 29, 2021, Sequoia Kings Canyon National parks experienced heavy thunderstorms that ignited five known lightning fires in the Park.The Sentinel Fire is located South of Cedar Grove just off Sentinel Ridge. This fire will be visible from Cedar Grove.The Parks are using a full-suppression confine and contain suppression strategy utilizing natural rock features, existing trails, hand line construction and other natural barriers as containment lines.  By using this method fire managers are reducing exposure to firefighters and minimizing suppression impacts in the wilderness.The park is working with the local air quality districts. Smoke will be visible near the fire locations and from high country vistas however, smoke from regional wildfires in the state of California may affect visibility over the area.All trails in the area remain open.  However, please use caution and follow all posted trail signs. There are no current threats to the Public or Park

Superior NF Facebook  |  Superior NF WebpageJohn Ek Fire:  The John Ek Fire was caused by lightning and is located 2.5 miles south of Little Saganaga Lake and extends from John Ek Lake to the SE corner of Elton Lake.  The Superior National Forest is closing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, effective August 21, 2021, due to active and increasing fire activity, extreme drought, limited resources. The closure will be in place for seven days, and may be modified or extended as conditions allow.   Gunflint Trail Pre-Evacuation Information:  https://fb.watch/7A5jW1Sm-t/For Superior National Forest Closures visit:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/superior/alerts-notices For Superior National Forest Fire Restrictions visit:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/superior/alerts-notices/?aid=67256For MN DNR Fire Restrictions visit:   https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/index.html 

The Bootleg Fire started on July 6th. The fire is on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, approximately 15 miles northwest of the town of Beatty, Oregon.  The Log Fire started on July 12th.  On July 20, the Log and Bootleg Fires merged into one. All acreages and statistics reflect the combined fires. Currently, fire activity has been minimal and crews continue to patrol and monitor the Bootleg, Walrus, and Yainax Fires. The Yainax and Walrus Fires started on August 5th within the initial attack jurisdiction area of the Bootleg Fire.  On Aug 14th a Type 3 incident management organization will continue management of the Bootleg Fire. The Oregon Department of Forestry will assume management of the Yainax and Walrus Fires effective Saturday, August 14 at 6:00 a.m. Major roads are open, although the national forest remains closed. Drivers should expect increased traffic in the area from fire equipment and are asked to use caution driving in the area. For information related to travel...

 A number of fires have been reported in the South Umpqua River Corridor and the Upper Cow Creek area, as a result of recent thunderstorms. Oregon Department of Forestry IMT 1 (Hessel) took command of the complex on 8/3/21.  The complex includes a number of small fires as well as the Poole Creek Fire, O'Shea Creek Fire, Sweat Creek, and Ike Butte.  Evacuations are issued by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and can be found at

Firefighters are continuing to make progress in improving existing containment lines and mopping up, taking advantage of the incoming increase in humidity recovery. Interior areas within the fire perimeter will continue to smolder and could potentially put up visible smoke. These smokes do not need to be reported by residents or the public.After safety hazards were mitigated and utility personnel had reenergized power in the Lytle Creek area, all evacuations were lifted Sunday night. Utility companies and fire personnel will continue to work in the area. Please reduce your speed and drive with caution. A Forest Order is in effect, closing a footprint around the fire and recreational sites within (view map). For this reason, members of the public may not enter the area campgrounds, picnic areas, trails, or dirt roads included in this closure

THREE PHASES OF WILDFIRE RECOVERY There are three phases of recovery following wildfires on federal lands: -       Fire Suppression Repair -       Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) -       Long-Term Recovery and Restoration o   Fire Suppression Repair is a series of immediate post-fire actions taken to repair damages and minimize potential soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities and usually begins before the fire is contained, and before the demobilization of an Incident Management Team. This work repairs the hand and dozer fire lines, roads, trails, staging areas, safety zones, and drop points used during fire suppression efforts. o   Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) is a rapid assessment of burned watersheds by a BAER team to identify imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System...

THREE PHASES OF WILDFIRE RECOVERY There are three phases of recovery following wildfires on federal lands: -       Fire Suppression Repair -       Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) -       Long-Term Recovery and Restoration o   Fire Suppression Repair is a series of immediate post-fire actions taken to repair damages and minimize potential soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities and usually begins before the fire is contained, and before the demobilization of an Incident Management Team. This work repairs the hand and dozer fire lines, roads, trails, staging areas, safety zones, and drop points used during fire suppression efforts. o   Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) is a rapid assessment of burned watersheds by a BAER team to identify imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System...

 The Crooks Fire was active today. The majority of the growth was southeast. The fire is estimated at 2,600 acres. The fire has not moved closer to any occupied structures. There are no evacuation orders in place. A fire update will be published in the morning, once the incident commander can update the information officer.

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes discovered the Boulder 2700 Fire the morning of July 31, 2021, in the Mission Mountains east of Flathead Lake, and eight miles east of Polson, MT. As of August 1, 2021, the size was approximately 1,150 acres, burning in steep terrain with heavy, downed fuels. Fourteen primary and seventeen secondary structures were lost. The fire's cause is under investigation. Northern Rockies Team 4 Type 2 team took command beginning on August 2, 2021 through August 15, 2021 at 6:00 a.m. Command was transferred at that time to a local Type 3 Organization. The Boulder 2700 Fire is 2,072 acres and 46% contained as of August 15,

All evacuation orders and road closures were lifted as of 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 28.  Firefighters remain in the area. Please drive slowly for everyone's safety.The fire remains at 50 acres, with 30% containment.  Fire retardant has been dropped around the entire perimeter of the fire, and crews continue to work building hand lines to gain full

Superior NF Facebook  |  Superior NF WebpageThe Gabi Fire was detected on August 23 and is located west of Gabimichigami Lake within the BWCAW.  The fire is .5 acre in size. Because of the remote location and poor access, it has been unstaffed. If the weather allows, a fire crew will be flown to the fire area today.For Superior National Forest Closures visit:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/superior/alerts-notices For Superior National Forest Fire Restrictions visit:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/superior/alerts-notices/?aid=67256For MN DNR Fire Restrictions visit: 

The Petit Fire was detected on August 23 and is located 1 mile north of Crescent Lake within the BWCAW. The fire is .5 acre in size and was contained on August 24. It is now in monitor

 All road closures in and around the Cougar Rock Complex have been lifted. There is still active fire burning within the interior of all incidents, but crews are making progress. Current tactics include direct hand line construction followed by hose lay and mop up. Diligent gridding of the green areas is necessary to identify and suppress spot fire that arise. 

 The Rice Bay Fire is located west of Phantom Lake within the BWCAW. It is currently .5 acre in size. A fire crew is working on an access route to the fire today to begin suppression work. Helicopter bucket water drops will be used as needed to help cool the fire’s