Boise National Forest to Begin Prescribed Fires

The Boise National Forest is planning to begin prescribed fire operations as early as this month, pending all required approvals. We expect this work to continue through the spring 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

• Skunk – 321 acres – 11 miles southeast of Cascade off Skunk Creek Road 417.

Emmett District

• Poorman – 2,652 acres – 2 miles east of Garden Valley off Banks-Lowman Road by the Forest Service Garden Valley Work Center
• Pinney Slope – 1,019 acres – 6 miles north of Crouch off Scriver Creek Road 693
• High Fork – 419 acres – 1 mile north of High Valley off High Valley Road 644

Idaho City District

• Alder Creek – 517 acres – 2 miles north of Placerville off Roads 615 and 395 near Alder Creek Summit
• Little Ophir – 111 acres –2 miles northeast of Placerville off Road 381E near Ophir Creek
• Mores South – 354 acres – 5 miles east of Idaho City off Road 327 at Rabbit Creek Summit and off Roads 329 and 357 in the Boulder Creek drainage
• Boise Basin Experimental Forest – 284 acres – 1 mile northwest of Idaho City off County Road 307
• Warm Springs – 100 acres – 8 miles southwest of Idaho City off Hwy 21 at Grimes Creek

Lowman District

• Clear Creek – 244 acres – 4 miles northeast of Lowman off Roads 582 and 545 at Long Creek
• Lick Creek – 551 acres – 2 miles east of Lowman off Road 558 near Lowman Ranger Station

Mountain Home District

• Cottonwood III – 66 acres – 15 miles east of Boise off Road 377 near Cottonwood Guard Station
• Johnson Fork – 141 acres – 9 miles southwest of Idaho City off Road 261 at Grimes Creek and Clear Creek

Stay informed about scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website, social media channels, and the Boise National Forest Rx Fire Project Dashboard. We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.

These areas may closed to the public for several days for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before, during, and after burns. 

Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. Go to www.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 evaluate weather and fuel conditions before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology – and rooted in communities – the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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