Approximate Location
Incident Overview
The area closure orders for both the Bitterroot and Salmon-Challis National Forests have been lifted.
The Saddle Complex was composed of two fires which joined during a 17,000-acre run on August 22nd. The Saddle Fire was detected on August 10, and the Stud Fire was located 4 days later. Both fires were ignited by lightning. They have been managed to meet multiple objectives, including returning fire to the ecosystem, mitigating the risks to firefighters, and minimizing negative impacts to private structures and USFS sites within the fire area. The Bitterroot and Salmon-Challis National Forests have worked jointly to manage the fire since it cross the Idaho-Montana stateline on about the 20th of August.
At this time, the Idaho and Montana sides of the fire are being managed separately by two Type 4 Incident Commanders. Current actions include snag removal, rehabilitation actions (including erosion control measures), and fire monitoring. Firefighters remain prepared to respond to protect values at risk as necessary.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Wednesday August 10th, 2011 approx. 05:14 PM |
| Location | 22 air miles NW of North Fork, Idaho |
Current Situation
| Size | 32,769 acres |
|---|---|
| Fuels Involved | Timber (litter and understory)lodgepole, subalpine fir; fuels involved are greater than 40% affected by bug kill. |
| Significant Events | All area and road closures have been lifted. |
Outlook
| Terrain Difficulty | Extreme |
|---|---|
| Remarks | Acres: ID -- 16,834; MT -- 15,802 |
