Fire danger closes stretch of river

The Bureau of Land Management took the unusual step Thursday of closing a portion of the Salmon River east of Riggins to all recreational activity because of advancing flames from the Tepee Springs Fire.

The nearly 26,000-acre blaze is estimated to be within a few miles of the south side of the Salmon River in Partridge Creek. The river was closed to boating and other forms of recreation from French Creek east of Riggins to the mouth of the Little Salmon River at Riggins.

Combined with the closure of the Salmon River Road, the action is causing headaches for rafters exiting weeklong float trips through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area.

The river is open between French Creek and the wilderness boundary where the Vinegar Creek and Carey Creek boat ramps are located. The road is also open from French Creek to its terminus near Vinegar Creek. Most floaters end their trips at one of the two boat ramps.

Because of the road closure, the only way for rafters taking out at the boat ramps to leave the river corridor is to use the steep and twisting French Creek Road that connects the Salmon River with McCall. Likewise, the only way to reach the boat ramps for private companies that shuttle vehicles for rafters is to use French Creek Road.

However, officials with the BLM, Payette National Forest and the Idaho County Sheriff's Office are working to establish a pilot car system that will lead rafters and shuttle drivers through the closed area via the Salmon River Road. Greg Lesch of the Payette National Forest said that option could be established if fire behavior allows. He also said fire managers are keeping close tabs on the blaze to ensure French Creek Road remains safe.

At this time of year, when flows are dropping on the river, there is little activity on much of the stretch between French Creek and Riggins. However, many outfitters and private rafters embarking on day trips down the lower Salmon River begin their floats at Short's Bar, which is in the closed area. Will Runnoe, manager of the BLM's Cottonwood Field Office, said day trippers can still access the river at a boat ramp in the Riggins City Park a short distance downstream.

He said the small number of people who float by the two upriver boat ramps to Riggins or beyond will have to make other plans.

"I'm hoping this incident settles down pretty fast," Runnoe said. "We would like to get things opened up. We understand the complexity of folks coming off of the main Salmon River."

Little other information about the Tepee Springs Fire was available Thursday night.

Many fires burned actively Thursday because of partial lifting of a smoke inversion that kept temperatures down and relative humidity levels up earlier in the week. The Woodrat and Slide fires that are part of the Motorway Complex were influenced by the clearing skies. The Woodrat Fire near Syringa has burned 4,654 acres. Firefighters there worked to contain a breach of the line on Ought Seven Ridge. Fire information officer Jennifer Costich said fire managers are reassessing containment strategies given the breach.

The Slide Fire along the north side of the Selway River has burned 10,318 acres. Firefighters continued to methodically backburn around homes and cabins along the river. No structures were lost Thursday, but Costich said many remain threatened. She said snags and rolling debris pose a threat to firefighters and also could cause the fire to spread.

Hotshot crews built line from Social Corner to the Lochsa River and dozers worked to corral a spot fire on the northeast flank of the 3,265-acre Jay Point Fire about a mile west of Powell. Little other information was available on the blaze.

The Wash Fire burning on the south side of the Selway River has covered 28,419 acres and the Baldy Fire 14 miles west/northwest of Elk City has covered 2,200 acres. Stage 1 evacuation alerts remain in place for Elk City because of the fire. Structures are also threatened near Newsome Creek. Little other information was available on the fires Thursday night.

Other fires burning on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest include the 3,000-acre Larkin Complex about 30 miles northeast of Pierce on the North Fork Ranger District. A portion of the St. Joe Divide Trail 233 was closed because of active burning on the Heather Fire. The Scurvy Fire continued to spread toward Scurvy Mountain Lookout. There is no containment on any of the fires.

On the Central Zone of the forest, the Lochsa South complex of fires has burned more than 1,000 acres with no containment. The Wilderness Complex has covered 8,500 acres in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area with no containment. The Boulder Fire, five miles west of Lolo Pass, has burned 3,000 acres with no containment.

On the South Zone of the forest, the Red River Complex is 5 percent contained. The six fires have covered more than 7,300 acres. Many roads in the area have been closed. More information on road, trail and area closures across the forest is available at http://j.mp/1hjiQid.

Crews working on the 74,000-acre Grizzly Bear Complex of fires in and around the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness near Troy, Ore., reacted quickly Thursday to squash a spot fire that jumped a line across the 62 Road on the southern flank of the blaze.

"The crews were able to get in there and do a really good job of catching that," said fire information officer Mark Wilkening.

On the fire's northern flank, firefighters continued to do structure protection near Godman and Slick Ear. Wilkening said they wrapped some cabins in fire-resistant foil and applied fire-resistant gel on the vegetation around the structures.

Fire crews are expecting 10 to 15 mph winds out of the northwest and the chance of light rain today. Wilkening said the wind will be a mixed blessing, turning the flames on themselves in some areas but testing lines in others.

Crews working on the Clearwater Complex as well as the Municipal, Old Greer and Fisher fires burning near Orofino, Craigmont and Kamiah continued to mop up hot spots Thursday. Fire information officer Clare Delaney said the lifting inversion allowed for some active burning.

"We were able to see plumes coming out but they were all well within the interior of the fire," she said.

She said the fires continue to be well-staffed.

"We have our firefighters available and they are patrolling and looking for any kind of hot spots out there," she said.

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Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2273. Follow him on Twitter @ezebarker.