Bearskin Fire Explained

Bearskin Fire
Reference:[1]
Date: –
Location:Valley County, Idaho United States
Coordinates:44.388°N -115.527°W
Pushpin Map:USA Idaho
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of fire in Idaho.
Area:30251acres
Cause:Lightning

The Bearskin Fire was a wildfire in Valley County, Idaho in the United States, 21 miles northeast of Lowman. The fire, which was reported on August 23, 2017, burned a total of 30251acres.

Events

The Bearskin Fire was reported on August 23, 2017, at 7:30 PM. Firefighters responded to the fire on August 25, which had burned 93acres upon their arrival. The area where the fire was discovered is very remote, with the fire being fueled by dead and down lodgepole pine and sub-alpine fir timber. The crew used a confinement strategy due to fears about firefighter safety and lack of resources available due to other fires burning in the state.[2]

By August 27, the fire had expanded to 476acres. At that time, 100 fire personnel were fighting the fire. Crews focused on removing roadside vegetation from nearby National Forest System roads, Deer Flat Campground, and an Idaho Power weather station. The Deer Flat Campground was closed.[3]

Two days later, on August 29, the fire had spread to approximately 5000acres, fueled by dead, bug kill and down lodgepole pine and sub-alpine fir.[4] Closures were expanded to the entire area surrounding the fire, specifically the Lowman Ranger District in the Boise National Forest.[5]

The fire almost doubled overnight, expanding to 11305acres due to winds ahead of thunderstorms. The fire had crossed a National Forest System road and moved closer to the Deer Flat Campground and into the Little Beaver Creek drainage. Numerous National Forest System road were closed.[6] The next day, September 1, the fire grew to 12000acres, burning in the northern end of Bear Valley. The Deadwood Reservoir and all nearby campgrounds were closed.[7]

By the evening of September 2, the fire had grown 15278acres, burning approximately four miles north of Deadwood Reservoir, burning up steep and rough terrain.[8] The next day, September 3, the fire had grown to over 19000acres with the fire expanding into Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness. This led to Clear Creek Road to be closed.[9] Additionally, the fire had moved closer to Deadwood Reservoir and headed into the Warm Springs and Wilson drainages. Crews chipped felled trees and removed corridor snags.[10]

As of September 9, the fire had spread to the ridgeline of Mount Pilgrim, threatening the Deadwood Outfitters lodge.[11] The Bearskin Fire was at 25808acres.[1] By September 15, leadership had reduced closures on Boise and Salmon Challis National Forest, providing access to the land for hunters and general recreation.[12] The fire burned a total of 30251acres.[1] Many areas of the Boise National Forest remain closed due to the impact of the fire.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bearskin Fire. Bearskin Fire. U.S. Forest Service. 6 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20181118015619/inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5536/. 18 November 2018.
  2. Web site: 8-25-2017 - Crews Respond to wildfire northeast of Deadwood Reservoir. InciWeb. U.S. Forest Service. 5 September 2017. 6 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170906041041/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5536/39080/. dead.
  3. Web site: 8-27-2017 Bearskin Fire continues to grow northeast of Deadwood Reservoir. InciWeb. U.S. Forest Service. 5 September 2017. 6 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170906035203/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5536/39374/. dead.
  4. Web site: 8-29-2017 Bearskin Fire Update. InciWeb. 5 September 2017. 6 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170906035909/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5536/39375/. dead.
  5. Web site: Area Closure - Bearskin Fire Area Version #2. InciWeb. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 5 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170906041139/inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/IDBOF/2017-08-25-1315-Bearskin/related_files/pict20170729-191720-0.pdf. 6 September 2017.
  6. Web site: 8-31-2017 Bearskin Fire increases and moves to the northeast. InciWeb. US Forest Service. 5 September 2017. 6 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170906035201/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5536/39558/. dead.
  7. Web site: 9-1-2017 Bearskin Fire Prompts Closures in the Deadwood Reservoir Area. InciWeb. US Forest Service. 5 September 2017. 6 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170906040026/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5536/39657/. dead.
  8. Web site: 9-2-2017 Public and firefighter safety primary in Bearskin Fire efforts. InciWeb. US Forest Service. 5 September 2017. 6 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170906041137/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5536/39787/. dead.
  9. Web site: 9-4-2017 Bearskin Fire Expected to Move Southwest toward Deadwood Reservoir. InciWeb. US Forest Service. 5 September 2017. 6 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170906040652/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5536/40012/. dead.
  10. Web site: 9-5-2017 Bearskin Fire expected to move toward Elk Creek Guard Station. InciWeb. US Forest Service. 5 September 2017. 6 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170906035421/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5536/40110/. dead.
  11. Web site: 9-9-2017 Bearskin Fire Update. InciWeb. Boise National Forest, U.S. Forest Service. 9 September 2017. 9 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170909234049/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5536/40533/. dead.
  12. Web site: 9-15-2017 Bearskin Fire Update. InciWeb. Boise National Forest. 16 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170916225528/inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5536/41146/. 16 September 2017.
  13. Web site: 9-22-2017 Bearskin Fire Area Closure Reduced - Version #5. InciWeb. Boise National Forest. 10 December 2017. 10 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171210175827/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5536/41678/. dead.

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