Idaho: Raft and Hells Canyon Fires

Hells Canyon Fire
Hells Canyon Fire in foreground, Raft Fire in the distance. Photo by Keith Lannon.

Firefighters are beginning to get a handle on one of the two fires burning 70 miles northwest of Boise, Idaho. The Raft and Hells Canyon fires are three miles from each other on the east side of Brownlee Reservoir.

The Hells Canyon Fire only grew by 10 acres Saturday, bringing the total to 9,373 acres. It is 85% contained. The Raft has burned 12,000 acres, is only 8% contained, and is actively burning within Benton Creek on the Payette National Forest.

A Type 2 Incident Management team with Mike Whalen as the Incident Commander will assume command of the fires Sunday. They will be managed as the Weiser Complex.

Hells Canyon Fire
Hells Canyon Fire August 29, 2013. InciWeb photo.
Raft Fire
Raft Fire burning in Benton Creek August 31, 2013. InciWeb photo.