July 21, 2007
Fire Situation Worsening
Most of you are aware that Stage I fire restrictions became
effective for federal, state and private lands in Idaho at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning July 20.
Building, maintaining or using a fire or campfire will be prohibited except at
designated recreation sites. Smoking will be limited to enclosed vehicles or
buildings, a designated recreation site or areas at least three feet in
diameter that are barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
The rules are slightly different for designated Wilderness
areas (the Frank Church, Gospel Hump and Selway Bitterroot), where fully
enclosed wood burning stoves with ¼ inch mesh spark arresting screens are
allowed along with approved fire pans and briquettes in designated recreation
sites along river corridors (Main Salmon, the Middle Fork and Selway). These
two exemptions carry over to Stage II restrictions should that occur in the
future in what the agencies call Area 10 (the three wilderness areas mentioned
above). For more information on fire restrictions, criteria for closures, and a
description of the exemptions go to http://gacc.nifc.gov/egbc/administrative/GB_Coord_Group/GB_Coord_Group.htm
Click on Southern Idaho
Restrictions and Closures. Cursor through this document and bookmark it for
future reference. By the way, the exemptions mentioned above apply to all users
of Area 10, not just commercial.
After the 2000 fires and closures, IOGA sought these
exemptions for all Idaho
public lands, but fire agency folks agreed to these exemptions for Area 10
only. The IOGA has sought and continues to pursue an exemption for the use of
sheepherder stoves outside of wilderness, but has not been successful yet. Land
based outfitters operating late summer hunts may experience very cool weather
but still be burdened with fire restrictions as was the case last September.
Many of you are receiving specific updates from agency
public affairs folks on specific fires, although the agencies are experiencing
some difficulties from time to time. A good source of information is www.inciweb.org
Bookmark this site.
The situation on the Main Salmon River worsened yesterday as
the Rains fire burned down to the river near the South Fork of the Salmon last
evening and has moved upstream toward Five Mile Bar (Buckskin Bill’s). Mackay
Bar has been spared as of this writing. This fire has jumped the river upstream
at Ludwig/Jackson Bar and now there is fire on both sides of the river.
Earlier this week, the Rattlesnake Fire on the Main Salmon
River spared Shepp Ranch. This fire has led to campsite closures in a 20 mile
stretch on the north side of the river. The Forest Service is now requesting
that boaters “think twice” about launching a trip. IOGA has been in touch with
forest service recreation, public affairs persons and some fire managers
regularly this week. Obviously, a river and/or land closures would be
devastating to small businesses. We have made that point. While closure
decisions consider age