Cabin Creek Fire
Location: Payette NF, 30 mi ENE of Yellow Pine, Valley Co. ID
Specific Location: Cabin Creek, trib to Big Creek, trib to M. F. Salmon River, Lat 45° 8´ 37″ Lon 114° 55´ 41″
Date of Origin: 07/30/2008
Cause: human
Situation as of 08/14/08 11:30 AM
The Cabin Creek Fire has been declared a part of the Westy WFU Fire [here]
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Situation as of 08/06/08 4:30 PM
Personnel: 12
Size: 5,494 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Costs to Date: not reported
Est date of containment: 09/30/2008
Est final fire size: not reported
No attempt is being made to contain or “steer” the fire. Classic non-suppression “suppression” fire, aka Let It Burn.
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Situation as of 08/04/08 5:00 PM
Personnel: 12
Size: 4,200 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Costs to Date: $262,790
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Situation as of 08/03/08 4:30 PM
Personnel: 7
Size: 4,000 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Est date of containment: 09/30/08 (this means the Payette NF has no intention of containing or fighting this fire).
Fire is moving WNW and has crossed Cave Creek. This fire is not a declared WFU. It was not ignited by lightning. Yet the Payette NF is not fighting it. It will be recorded as a “suppression” fire but is actually Let It Burn.
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Situation as of 08/02/08 4:30 PM
Personnel: 16
Size: 3,315 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Another major screw up by the Payette NF and fire manager Sam Hescock. At no time was there any intention of fighting this fire. Although they have lied to the public and classed the Cabin Creel Fire as a “suppression” fire, it has been Let It Burn all along.
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Situation as of 07/31/08 5:45 PM
Personnel: 16
Size: 900 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Cabin creek airstrip open, structure protection in place at Taylor Ranch. Red Flag Warning for strong winds today, 10 to 15 MPH increasing to 25 TO 30 MPH in the afternoon.
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Situation as of 07/30/08 5:00 PM
Personnel: 7
Size: 686 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Overhead Team Name: Hescock Type 4 IC Local
Cabin Creek airstrip closed, structure protection implemented. Initial attack resources (7 personnel) failed to contain fire. Rapid rates of spread, 95% active perimeter, high intensity fire.
by Mike W.
I haven’t seen any post-fire reports for the Cabin Creek Fire specifically.
Many people have sent in photos of the Middle Fork Salmon from the fires of 2007. They are posted [here].
Those fires burned 800,000 acres. The effects are still evident. For one of many first-hand post-fire reports, see [here].
The Cabin Creek Fire became part of the Westy WFU Fire Complex [here]. About 12,000 acres burned, but that is an estimate because fire reports were few and far between.
Please take some photos and write us about your impressions after your trip.
It is now 2.16.09. I’m reading this update for the 1st time. I have a fly-fishing fly-in planned for mid June. Can you tell me about the current state of the area?
Mike