Rattlesnake Fire Fact Sheet - September 17, 2007
Incident: Rattlesnake Wildland Fire
Released: 9/17/2007
Rattlesnake Fire
Red River Ranger District
September 17, 2007
Information Officers: Terina Mullen & Marianne Baumberger
@ (208) 842-9225
Office hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Incident: A lightning-caused wildland fire, which started near Shepp Ranch on 7/13/2007.
Location: Twenty-five miles south of Elk City, ID along the Salmon River.
Jurisdiction: Nez Perce National Forest
Cooperating Agencies: Idaho County Sheriff's Office, Idaho County Disaster Coordinator and Dixie Vol. Fire Dept.
Incident Commander: Mark Grant, Northern Rockies Type II Incident Management Team (IMT). The Incident Command Post is located at the old Red River Ranger Station.
Current Size: 102,000 acres Containment: 25%
Yesterday's Activity: Warmer temperatures, lower relative humidity and windy conditions from passing thunderstorms resulted in more active fire behavior along the ridge southwest of Orogrande. The fire grew by approximately 800 acres but has not moved toward Orogrande. The fire area received spotty, light rain. Crews are nearing completion of the rehabilitation activities. An additional eight new fire starts from the recent thunderstorm were discovered. The local agency responded and is managing these smaller fires. Firefighters from the Rattlesnake fire assisted with initial attack efforts.
Current Resources: The number of firefighters on the incident is 119. Resources assigned include one crew, one dozer, three engines and two water tenders.
Today's Strategy: Firefighters continue to monitor fire activity and finish rehabilitation efforts. Seeding operations will continue in the Lemon Saddle area. Very cool and much moister conditions are predicted for Monday through Wednesday. Snow may be possible at the higher elevations.
Special Messages: The Nez Perce National Forest has a Special Area Closure to provide for public safety during periods of active fire in the Rattlesnake fire area. A map description of the current fire closure area is posted on the website listed below.
Additional road closures are also in effect. Due to salvage logging operations along FS Road #1188 (Burpee Mountain Road), the road may be blocked one mile from FS Road #222. FS Road #1188 is closed at its junction with FS Road #311 (near Nut Hill). FS Road #311 is closed from Orogrande to Dixie Guard Station. FS Road #222 is closed from Dixie Guard Station to Dixie.
The next community information meeting will be held in Dixie today at 3:15 p.m. in the Community Center.
Stage I Fire Restrictions are in place on the Nez Perce Forest. Campfires are restricted to designated recreation sites. Smoking is restricted to vehicles, buildings and areas void of vegetation.
For further information, visit: http://www.inciweb.org/; Select "Rattlesnake"
Rattlesnake Fire
Related Information
Community Meetings: The next public meeting will be held at the Dixie Community Center on Monday, September 17th at 3:15 p.m.
Rattlesnake Fire Area Closure: The Nez Perce National Forest has a Special Area Closure to encompass the Rattlesnake fire. The closure is described as follows:
Beginning at the mouth of Sheep Creek on the Salmon River (Sect 35, T 25 N, R 5E) proceeding northwest along the Red River/Salmon River District boundary to Johnson Saddle; then from Johnson Saddle north along FS Trail 91 (but not including Trail 91) to FS Trail 312, continuing north on FS Trail 312 (but not including Trail 312) to Plummer Point.
From Plummer Point along the Red River/Salmon River District boundary to FS Trail 313, then east on FS Trail 313 (and including Trail 313) to FS Trail 415, northeast on FS Trail 415 (and including Trail 415) to FS Trail 205. Southeast on FS Trail 205 (and including Trail 205) to FS Trail 800, northeast on FS Trail 800 (and including Trail 800) to FS Trail 801, Southeast on FS Trail 801 (and including Trail 801) to Old Orogrande, Southeast from Old Orogrande on Road 311 (and including road 311) to Road 221 near Dixie Guard Station, North on Road 222 (and including Road 222) to the town of Dixie.
From Dixie, east on FS Trail 210 (and including Trail 210) to Churchill Mountain. From Churchill Mountain drawing a straight line northeasterly to Big Mallard Creek Trailhead on Road 421. From Big Mallard Creek Trailhead southeasterly on FS Trail 585 (and including Trail 585) to FS Trail 503, south on FS Trail 503 (and including Trail 503) to the Salmon river at Richardson Bar, West along the Salmon River to the mouth of Sheep Creek and the Red River/Salmon River District boundary, the point of beginning.
Note: The Salmon River corridor is open to permitted uses, including camping on beaches. Lands above the beaches, including FS Trail 96 remain closed.
For further information or details of the area closure, contact the Red River Ranger District @ 208-842-2245.
Salmon River Corridor: The Main Salmon River corridor will be re-opened from Salmon Falls to Vinegar Creek for recreational boating. Launches from Corn Creek on the Mail Salmon River will be allowed starting at 8:00 a.m. for permitted outfitters and individual boaters with permits. Access to the Salmon River Road downriver from the Cove Creek Bridge is now open. For further information, contact Kent Fuellenbach @ 208-756-5145.
Restrictions: The Nez Perce National Forest remains under Stage I Fire Restrictions.
