Drew Dodson here with this week’s edition of the Valley Lookout newsletter. I spent the week off last week vacationing in North Carolina, which was great, but coming home to fall in Valley County is also a pretty nice treat.

First up

Boise Forest: Rock Fire all but mopped up

Containment of the Rock Fire near Tamarack Resort was up to 95% as of last weekend, according to the Boise National Forest.

A written update issued last weekend is expected to be the last on the Rock Fire “unless significant changes occur,” the Boise Forest said.

The Rock Fire began on Aug. 12 about 1.5 miles south of Tamarack’s southern ski area boundary and has since consumed about 2,796 acres—nearly 68% of which were burned within 24 hours of ignition. No structures were lost in the fire.

At its height, the 4.4-square-mile fire had nearly 900 firefighters assigned to it from states all over the country. More than 100 firefighters continued to work the fire as of last weekend.

The Rock Fire initially threatened homes within Tamarack, but firefighters anchored the resort’s Upper Bliss Ski Run with containment lines.

Firefighters then established containment lines and hose lays around the 33-mile perimeter of the fire. Once the fire was controlled in late August, work transitioned to mopping up lingering hot spots and disassembling containment lines.

All evacuation orders issued by Valley County for the Rock Fire were lifted earlier this month.

(Fog lifts over the Rock Fire Incident Command Post off Warm Lake Road. Photo: Courtesy Tom Lonka, Incident Meteorologist, National Weather Service)

Payette, Boise forests announce prescribed fire plans

Prescribed burns will be completed from Council to Cascade this fall to reduce wildfire fuel loading on the Boise and Payette national forests, according to the agencies.

This year’s work plan includes 1,367 acres within the Cascade Ranger District of the Boise National Forest and more than 350 acres near Smiths Ferry on the Emmett Ranger District. A map of those treatments is available here.

On the Payette National Forest, prescribed burns will be completed near Goose Creek Canyon east of New Meadows, around Lost Valley Reservoir, and in the northwestern portion of Meadows Valley.

Prescribed fires will also be completed 11 miles southeast of McCall in the Sloans Point Project Area, near Yellow Pine, and around Council Mountain. A full map of the Payette’s treatments is available here.

“These fires improve wildlife habitat and promote long-term ecosystem integrity and sustainability by reducing the risk of high-severity wildland fire,” the Boise Forest said in a news release.

The prescribed fires could be completed anytime from now through December. Timing is dependent on weather. Caution signs will be posted on trails within prescribed burn areas.

Smoke from the fires could last up to two weeks, but is expected to dissipate within one or two days of ignition.

Civic Lookout

• McCall City Council: Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Agenda available here.
• New Meadows City Council: Monday at 6:30 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Cascade City Council: Monday at 6 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Valley County Commissioners: Next Wednesday, starting at 9 a.m. Agenda to be posted here.

Valley Lookout Original Reporting

‘Pinnacle of whitewater competition’ to return to North Fork Payette River

After a three-year hiatus, one of the most challenging whitewater kayak races in the world will return to Valley County next year—albeit with a few changes. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Valley County OKs smaller McCall Impact Area, eyes ‘transition’ plan

A year of negotiations between city and county officials culminated last week in a plan adopted by county commissioners that will fundamentally change how growth around McCall is managed. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

‘We will listen to the opposing view’: Valley Co. likes settlement offer in Donnelly subdivision lawsuit

The county has reached a settlement agreement with neighbors of an embattled subdivision proposal near Donnelly, but the terms are not amenable to the developer. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Mountain Happenings

McCall

• Farmers Market: Today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Second Street in downtown McCall. *Ends Oct. 4*
• End of Season Party: Idaho Trails Association to host celebration on Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Broken Horn Brewing Company.
• Tabletop Tuesday: Community board game night at the McCall Public Library on Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Night Ride at Bear Basin: Central Idaho Mountain Bike Association to host nighttime ride from main Bear Basin parking lot next Tuesday at 7 p.m. All skill levels welcome.
• Author Visit: Local author Susan Reddick to speak at the McCall Public Library next Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. More information available here.
  

Donnelly

• Farmers Market: Every Wednesday in Donnelly City Park from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. *Ends Sept. 24*
• Wine Dinner: Lava Cap Winery featured on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Stefano’s Tasting Yurt at Casa Rossa Tapas and Wine Bar. Call 208-325-3832 for reservations.
• Oktoberfest: Saturday, Sept. 27, from noon to 5 p.m. at Tamarack Resort. More information available here.

Cascade

• Asian Buffet: Saturday starting at 5 p.m. at the Warm Lake Lodge.
• Idaho High Mountain Triathlon: Second annual race to be held Saturday, Oct. 4, from Warm Lake to Yellow Pine. Registration open here through Sept. 27.

New Meadows

• Fall Festival: Vendors, games, live music, and food trucks in Dorsey Warr Memorial Park on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Mehen Memorial Skatepark: Grand opening set for Saturday, Sept. 27, at 11 a.m.

Mountain Pet of the Week

Meet my mischievous orange cat Pappy, who went missing for four days last week while I was away on vacation, but miraculously returned home no worse for the wear. Ever the adventurer, this photo was taken in June after Pappy evidently took a spill into Boulder Creek.

Click here to nominate your pet for Mountain Pet of the Week for a chance to be featured on a weekly newsletter!