Birch Fire (IDSCF)
23,094 acre wildfire (100% contained)
Challis, Idaho, United States
Birch Fire
Wildfire Status:
The Birch Fire, which began on August 17, 2024, has reached a total size of 23,094 acres and is located on Norton Ridge on the west side of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River within the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. As of October 30, 2024, the fire is reported to be 100% contained, following its merger with the Mowitch Fire on October 9, 2024. This merger means that updates from this date forward will solely refer to the Birch Fire.
Firefighting efforts have led to the successful containment of the fire, with no personnel currently engaged in active firefighting operations. The incident commander overseeing the situation is Getty. The fire's behavior has been minimal, and no significant events have been reported recently, reflecting the effectiveness of containment strategies employed by the fire agencies.
Current weather conditions are favorable for fire containment, with light winds expected and initial precipitation in the form of rain and snow forecasted to arrive overnight. This weather pattern is projected to continue impacting the central mountains throughout the weekend, further aiding in the firefighting efforts and reducing the risk of flare-ups. With projected minimal fire activity, the outlook remains optimistic as the incident approaches full resolution.
Visit Inciweb Incident Page for more information. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only.
Containment History:
| Date | Percent Contained |
|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | 0% contained |
| 2024-10-28 | 0% contained |
| 2024-11-05 | 100% contained |
Fire Growth History:
| Date | Fire Size (Acres) | Fire Size (Square Miles) | Fire Size (Square Kilometers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | 2950 acres | 4.6 sq mi | 11.8 sq km |
| 2024-09-29 | 2950 acres | 4.6 sq mi | 11.8 sq km |
| 2024-09-30 | 3110 acres | 4.9 sq mi | 12.4 sq km |
| 2024-10-02 | 4670 acres | 7.3 sq mi | 18.7 sq km |
| 2024-10-04 | 6511 acres | 10.2 sq mi | 26.0 sq km |
| 2024-10-06 | 13274 acres | 20.7 sq mi | 53.1 sq km |
| 2024-10-07 | 14539 acres | 22.7 sq mi | 58.2 sq km |
| 2024-10-08 | 14670 acres | 22.9 sq mi | 58.7 sq km |
| 2024-10-09 | 14773 acres | 23.1 sq mi | 59.1 sq km |
| 2024-10-12 | 20759 acres | 32.4 sq mi | 83.0 sq km |
| 2024-10-13 | 21729 acres | 34.0 sq mi | 86.9 sq km |
| 2024-10-14 | 22163 acres | 34.6 sq mi | 88.7 sq km |
| 2024-10-15 | 22545 acres | 35.2 sq mi | 90.2 sq km |
| 2024-10-21 | 22995 acres | 35.9 sq mi | 92.0 sq km |
| 2024-10-29 | 23043 acres | 36.0 sq mi | 92.2 sq km |
| 2024-11-05 | 23094 acres | 36.1 sq mi | 92.4 sq km |