The sun, seen through smoky skies, gets low in the sky over a ridge along the Salmon River Valley in Idaho, August 11, 2012. Wildfire Today photo.
Tag: Idaho
Update on firefighter fatality in Idaho
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized2 Comments on Update on firefighter fatality in Idaho 
The firefighter that was killed by a falling snag on Sunday, August 12 has been identified as Anne Veseth of Moscow, Idaho, a second-year firefighter with the Nez Perce & Clearwater National Forests. She also worked for one year on a U.S. Forest Service trail crew. Ms. Veseth was 20 years old and was attending Lewis and Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho.
According to KLEWTV, she was working toward a Bachelor degree in Business administration after earning an associate degree in Auto Mechanics Technology. She was on the Dean’s List all four semesters.
Her older brother, Brian Veseth, is also a wildland firefighter.
A rosary will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1st and Polk, Moscow, Idaho (map) at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 17. Full Mass services will be held for Anne on Saturday, August 18, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The family asks that all firefighters attending the services wear their yellow shirts and green pants (clean, but used).
Forest Service firefighter killed in Idaho
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized5 Comments on Forest Service firefighter killed in Idaho The U.S. Forest Service announced that a firefighter was killed in the line of duty Sunday afternoon, August 12, while working on the Steep Corner fire near Orofino, Idaho. The Lewiston Tribune reported that Rick Brazell, supervisor of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, said the firefighter was struck when one tree fell and crashed into another tree, causing it to fall in a domino effect. Anne Veseth, from Moscow, was killed while working on the Steep Corner fire near Orofino.
Veseth, 20, was a graduate of Moscow High School and a student at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston. This was her second season as a firefighter. Her older brother is also a wildland firefighter.
The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest said the Clearwater Potlatch Timber Protective Association (CPTPA) stationed out of Orofino, Idaho was managing the suppression response on the fire. CPTPA is a local cooperative initial attack association responsible for fire suppression in the area. The Forest Service was cooperatively assisting in suppression of the fire.
Our sincere condolences go out to the family and coworkers.
Helicopters at Salmon, Idaho
Here is a sampling of some of the helicopters that were based at the Salmon, Idaho airport, working on wildfires in southern Idaho on Sunday, August 12, 2012.
Idaho’s Minidoka Complex keeps scoopers busy
Beth Lund’s Type 1 team members and local officials met last night with community members at Howells Opera House in Oakley to discuss the Minidoka Complex. The Times-News reported that fielded questions included a discussion of restoring burned grazing allotments and the timeframe for lifting imposed evacuations.
Lund said the team is optimistic they can contain the fires within a couple days. She said the recent rains will help with suppression efforts. The Cave Canyon Fire, the largest in the complex, has grown by more than 34,000 acres in a day. She said it’s made repeated downhill runs at night.
Scott Nannenga with the Minidoka Ranger District told ranchers that burned grazing allotments will be rested, but that the fire’s effects will have longterm benefits. Other area officials told the crowd that plans are under way for post-fire rehab.
Lund said decisions are pending for the dates that evacuated residents can return to their homes. “We don’t want to let you back and then have to take you back out again,” she said.
The team reported last night that evacuations and extreme fire runs have prompted their requests for critical resources.
Reservoirs both north and south of the fire were evaluated and approved for scooping runs by CL-215 aircraft, but that the lack of other ordered resources has resulted in fire growth in all directions. Containment objectives have been compromised by the lack of a Type 3 high performance helicopter.
The fires on the complex have burned with high intensity and have been extremely active, with running and torching in the conifer portions of the fires. Flamelengths have gone to 50 feet in some fuel types, with short-range spotting in all fuel types. Roads and natural barriers, fire managers said, can’t be relied upon to check the fire’s spread. The Cave Canyon Fire last night was at 80,012 acres, the Deer Hollow Fire was at 4,027 acres, the Eight Mile Fire was at 211 acres, and the Hot Well Fire was estimated at 8,056 acres.
Halstead Fire grows to over 43,500 acres
Author Kelly AnderssonPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Halstead Fire grows to over 43,500 acres The Halstead Complex is just 3 percent contained at more than 43,500 acres. It’s burning in a rugged area of the Salmon-Challis National Forest, with large expanses of beetle-killed trees. LocalNews8 reported that the fire in the Trail Creek area put up a large column of smoke visible from Stanley, and was spreading east toward the Valley Lakes area. Emergency crews evacuated the Bradley Memorial Boy Scout Camp, Lola Creek Campground, Lola Creek Spura A, Marsh Creek Trailhead, and Beaver Creek Campground.
Yesterday afternoon the Twin Falls County Sheriff announced that all access to the South Hills via Rock Creek Road or Indian Springs is closed, along with the Rockcreek Drainage east of Deadline Ridge. Access to Murtaugh Lake will be limited because aircraft are accessing the lake for suppression efforts. KMVT News reported that a weak trough passing to the north yesterday was expected to produce showers and dry thunderstorms, with warmer and drier weather over the weekend. KMVT.com has several good photos online from area residents.
A couple of new fires were reported on the Salmon-Challis; one was contained and the other, a half-acre fire on Sage Creek, had a Type 4 engine and crew from Salmon along with four rappellers assigned.
Crews are building control lines to protect the Boy Scout camp, private property, and the Highway 21 corridor. Fuels reduction work is under way near Loon Creek, and firefighters are assessing structure protection needs in the Bonanza and Yankee Fork areas.
The complex includes several fires; the Merino Fire is approximately 4 acres and burning in an old burn area on the ridge top near Indian Springs Guard Station. The Bench Fire is about 270 acres on the east side of Highway 21. The fire threw out several spot fires during the day and had a helicopter assigned. The Halstead Fire is moving toward Marsh Creek, with burning activity also in Valley Creek. The fire is still about 4 miles from Loon Creek.
