Boise National Forest Begin Prescribed Fires

Boise National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations starting mid-September, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through January as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.

Prescribed fires planned for the area include:

• Cascade District
  • Moore Moths – 187 acres – five miles south of Cascade
  • Skunk – 90 acres – eight miles southeast of Cascade
  • Skunk Piles – 550 acres of pile burns – 10 miles southeast of Cascade
  • Lost Horse Piles – 350 acres of pile burns – 12 miles east of Cascade
  • Hazard Piles – 350 acres of pile burns – five miles west of Cascade
  • Willow Piles – 65 acres of pile burns – five miles southwest of Cascade
  • Fawn Tussock Piles – 125 acres of pile burns – nine miles south of Cascade
• Emmett District
  • Cotton – 314 acres – six miles west of Smith’s Ferry
  • High Fork – 50 acres – four miles southwest of Smith’s Ferry
  • Horseshoe Piles – 175 acres of pile burns – two miles northwest of High Valley
  • Shirts Piles – 1,600 acres of pile burns – three miles south of High Valley
• Idaho City District
  • Alder Creek – 517 acres – 11 miles northwest of Idaho City
  • Little Ophir – 111 acres – 10 miles north of Idaho City
  • Mores South – 1,447 acres – five miles east of Idaho City
  • Bear Run Piles – 1,650 acres of pile burns – two miles northeast of Idaho City
  • BBEF Piles – 250 acres of pile burns – one mile north of Idaho City
  • Buckskin Piles – 1,000 acres of pile burns – 10 miles north of Idaho City
• Lowman District
  • Clear Creek – 459 acres – two miles northeast of Lowman
  • Lick Creek – 256 acres – one mile east of Lowman
  • Helende Piles – 66 acres of pile burns – seven miles east of Lowman
  • 7 Ravens Piles – 50 acres of pile burns – 10 miles east of Lowman
• Mountain Home District
  • Cottonwood III – 711 acres – 17 miles east of Boise
  • Johnson Fork – 141 acres – 14 miles northeast of Boise
  • Johnson Fork Piles – 300 acres of pile burns – 10 miles southwest of Idaho City
  • Sinker Piles – 200 acres of pile burns – 10 miles north of Boise
  • Sheep Creek Piles – 450 acres of pile burns – 10 miles northeast of Boise

Those areas may close to the public for several days for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns. 

Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. Go to https://fire.airnow.gov/ to find more detailed information about air quality. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

We will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.

Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website, Facebook account, and Prescribed Fire Public Notification Dashboard (https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/282f07d487f640d1a75d5fee9fc0b389). We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.