the film forum library tutorial contact DONATE

Sawtooth Salmon Festival Canceled Due to Fires by Staff Challis Messenger, August 23, 2024

The Saturday, Aug. 24 Sawtooth Salmon Festival has been canceled because of the Wapiti Fire burning near Stanley.

Idaho Rivers United and Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association members canceled the event around noon Friday, Aug. 23 "out of respect for the Sawtooth community as the Wapiti Fire causes evacuations west of Stanley."

People who are in Stanley this weekend and want to view a chinook redd can stop by the Stanley Museum or Redfish Lake Visitor Center and get information about river spots to check out.

The 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23 summer speaker series event is still scheduled, with the new location of the Redfish Visitor Center. Northern Shoshoni tribal member Leo Ariwite will share stories about gathering fish along the Salmon River.

The lightning-caused Wapiti Fire had burned 35,631 acres as of noon Friday. It's listed as 10 percent contained. It started two miles southwest of Grandjean and has spread toward Stanley Lake and Stanley in the last couple of days. On Friday there were 263 firefighters on scene, including five hotshot crews, along with 19 engines, one bulldozer, one water tender and one skidgen.

Firefighters on Thursday night took more steps to secure buildings at Grandjean and in the Hanging Valley area. Fire activity moved into Wolf Creek drainage Thursday night, and toward the Hanging Valley community. Firefighters held the fire line around the community and operated sprinklers to cool down the areas around structures, according to InciWeb.

Idaho Highway 21 remains closed from Stanley, now farther to the Sourdough Lodge in Lowman, essentially between mile markers 84 and 130. Local traffic is permitted between Sourdough Lodge and the Warm Springs airstrip. No public access is available to Grandjean, Bull Trout, Cape Horn, Boundary Creek or Seafoam. Local businesses in Lowman and Stanley are still accessible and open, according to the Idaho Transportation Department.

Closure orders are also in place for parts of the Sawtooth, Salmon-Challis and Boise forests. Those orders have changed frequently and visitors should check forest websites or call ranger district offices for the most current information.

Hanging Valley, Summer Homes and the Sawtooth Lodge are still evacuated. The city of Stanley is now in the "ready" evacuation status, which means people should prepare for evacuation.

Custer County residents can subscribe to emergency cellphone alerts by sending a text message of 994411 or enrolling online.

Stage 1 fire restrictions are in place in the Boise Forest, on Idaho Department of Lands property and on Bureau of Land Management lands within Idaho's west central mountains.

Related Pages:
The Fish-Based Food Web: When Predator and Prey Connect by Mary Wilson, Pacific NW Research Station, 4/13/99

Related Pages:
One of Idaho's most beloved areas is going up in flames. See 'heartbreaking' images Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 8/29/24