The calendar may say mid-September, but it feels like mid-July to the people managing the still-spreading wildfires on the Payette and Boise national forests.
Conditions usually found in mid-summer are persisting, which means there is no end in sight to the two major tire complexes that are now entering their third month.
"I wish we had some better news; it is just going to take some patience, said Paul Broyles, incident commander for the East Zone Fire Complex.
Record low dryness measurements continue to encourage the flames and frustrate firefighting efforts.
"The reality is, the fire's there, it's beyond what we can do going out and just pounding out fire line," he said. "We have to be in it for the long haul."
As a result, firefighters and equipment are being kept at high numbers because of the potential danger, said Mike Whalen, who is the incident commander for the Cascade Complex, the other large fire complex burning east of Long Valley.
"It's pretty incredible this late in the season." Whalen said. "This stuff is burning like it was mid-July"
One problem is that college-age firefighters are leaving their crews and returning to school.
Also, fire experts assigned to fire management teams from urban fire department are getting weary after two months of duty, he said.
However. Whalen and Broyles said they have had no problem marshaling the men and equipment they need.
Here is a summary of the two fire complexes:
Cascade Complex
The Cascade Complex, which has been burning around Warm Lake since July 17, reached 286,205 acres by Wednesday:
Firefighters set a burnout along Johnson Creek south of Yellow Pine and continued to set up sprinklers and hoses around homes and other buildings, Whalen said.
The area previously was thinned, but the burn provides an added layer of protection he said. "It just creates some defensive black space," Whalen said.
Electrical power was restored to Warm Lake and Yellow Pine on Wednesday, 10 days after the line was shut down after flames burned two sets of poles.
A total of 912 people were assigned to the fire by mid-week. That included 22 crews of 20 persons each, nine helicopters, 43 fire engines, 14 water tankers, and 229 support people.
Cost for the Cascade Complex was set at more than $46.2 million.
East Zone Complex
The East Zone Complex, which has been burning around Warren and Secesh Meadows since July 7, reached 274,594 acres by mid-week.
Firefighters were working to ensure fire does not move toward Burgdorf on the west side of the fire and ranches along the South Fork of the Salmon River on the east side, Broyles said.
Some areas around Warren still have not burned, and firefighters are watching those spots, he said.
A total of 586 people were working on the fire complex at mid-week.
That included 11 crews of 20 persons each, six helicopters, 23 fire engines and 11 water tankers.
Cost of battling the East Zone Complex had reached $29.3 million by Wednesday
Idaho 55 Reopens
A burnout was set on Saturday along Idaho 55 south of Banks to combat the Chief Parrish Fire.
Normal traffic flow was restored to Idaho 55 between Horseshoe Bend and Banks, with two lanes open and no restrictions.
The Chief Parrish Fire forced a total closure of the highway for 24 hours early last week, followed by one-lane traffic with pilot cars throughout the week.
Fire managers warned that smoke rolling debris and fire crews could still be in the area.
