Restoration project for Lava Fire in southwest Idaho open for public comment

Firefighters walk near fire hoses set up to protect homes and cabins threatened by the Lava Fire near Lake Cascade on Sept. 11. (Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun)

A proposed project to address wildfire damage from the Lava Fire in southwest Idaho is open for public comment.

The Payette National Forest’s Council Ranger District announced Monday the Lava Fire Salvage Project is open for scoping comments for 30 days.

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Started by lightning on Sept. 2 about 12 miles southwest of Cascade, the Lava Fire burned nearly 98,000 acres in the Payette and Boise national forests, including public lands that are federally and state managed along with private land. It was contained in October. 

The Council Ranger District proposes cutting hazard trees within and adjacent to the Big Flat developed recreation site and salvaging trees within the perimeter of the Lava Fire, according to the Payette National Forest’s website for the proposed project.

If approved, the project would start in January.

Information about the proposed restoration project and how to submit public comment is available online. For more information, contact Supervisory Forester Ryan Foster at [email protected] or 541-263-1944.

In response to damage caused by the Lava Fire, the Boise National Forest also changed groomed snowmobile routes northwest of Sage Hen Reservoir area. 

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