A wildfire that ignited near Tamarack Resort in August was officially contained on Tuesday, according to the Boise National Forest.
Fire managers declared 100% containment on the Rock Fire at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning following heavy overnight rains that dumped about a quarter inch of water on the 2,796-acre fire zone. Rainfall continued throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday.
The decision, which came three weeks after containment of the lightning-caused wildfire moved above 90% on Sept. 9, reflects fire managers’ confidence that the wildfire will not escape containment lines, according to Mike Williamson, a spokesperson for the Boise National Forest.
However, the fire could still smolder in places throughout the fall and may not be completely extinguished until snow covers the fire zone. An incident commander and an engine crew of six firefighters continue to work the Rock Fire, Williamson said.
“The firefighters are primarily patrolling for hotspots, falling hazard trees along roads, and identifying ways to increase public safety for the area,” he said.
So far, about $29.3 million has been spent battling the Rock Fire, though Williamson said that number is not final.
Containment of the fire hovered just below 100% for most of September, Williamson said, because firefighters continued to find “heat sources” near containment lines crews built around the 33-mile perimeter of the Rock Fire after it started on Aug. 12.
The Rock Fire grew to 1,900 acres within 24 hours of ignition, but saw minimal growth as firefighters established containment lines, including a line built along Tamarack’s Upper Bliss ski run in the first days after ignition. No structures were destroyed.
At its peak, nearly 900 firefighters from all over the country were assigned to the Rock Fire.
All evacuation designations for areas near the Rock Fire were lifted by Valley County on Sept. 8. Two zones along West Mountain Road had been at the “Ready” stage of the county’s evacuation protocol, while a zone containing the Tamarack Village was moved to the “Set” stage, which advises occupants to be ready to evacuate “at a moment’s notice,” for eight days during the fire.
