10-17 Trinity Ridge Fire Update
Incident: Trinity Ridge Fire Wildfire
Released: 10/17/2012
Trinity Ridge Fire Weekly Update
Boise National Forest
October 17, 2012
Updates are posted and/or mailed each Wednesday
Website: www.inciweb.org
Fire Information: Idaho City Ranger District: 208.392-6681
Mountain Home Ranger District: 208.587.7961
Fire Update:
The fire was officially declared contained Monday, October 15. A few pockets of hot areas continue to smolder within the fire perimeter with isolated smokes visible. It is anticipated a few remaining areas will smolder until snow arrives. The fire area received about ½ inch of rain Monday and Tuesday. There was evidence of increased water flows on some creeks, but no damage was reported on the Middle Fork Boise River Road, or other roads in the fire area. Some trees did fall onto a few roads due to the high winds Tuesday.
Closure Area:
The Idaho City District Ranger has eliminated the area closure in the West Warrior Mountain area. However there is one specific trail closed due to trail conditions and public safety. That is the Browns Creek Trail (#48). The Hot Creek Trail (#47) is open to foot traffic only. The Mountain Home District Ranger will continue with a 25,000 acre area closure due to hazard tree concerns and public safety in the southern portion of the fire (Trinity Lakes Recreation Area). A map and details of these areas are at http://www.inciweb.org/. Hunters also can access a link at Idaho Department of Fish and Games website regarding fire closure areas throughout the state at: https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/article/do-fire-closures-leave-you-hunting-spot-hunt
Burned Area Emergency Response:
Work to complete the emergency rehabilitation for watershed protection and road and trail repairs has already begun. That includes road grading to improve drainage, and cleaning road ditches and culverts of debris. The work already done helped prevent road damage from yesterday's heavy rain. Also some water bars are being built to help slow the flow of water coming down roads or trails. A big project pending is to apply straw mulch using helicopters on about 1900 acres which is likely to begin late in October. That work will be focused in the Trinity, Rainbow and Lost Man Creeks.
Other significant work will be to prepare culverts for higher water flows by upgrading their size or removing them. Other work will include cultural resource protection, hazard tree falling and public safety signing. The focus is to protect critical values such as life, property, and natural or cultural resources that may have imminent risks. Work must be completed one year from the date of containment, and workers are trying to get most of the work done before it snows. Snow melt in the spring is considered the time of most risk due to water runoff and potentially higher water flows.
Fire Facts:
Size: 146,832 acres
Percent Containment: 100%
