The Murphy Complex Wildland Fires

The Murphy Complex began as several separate lightning fires on July 16 and 17, 2007 in rangelands near the Idaho-Nevada border southwest of Twin Falls, Idaho.  The fires eventually encompassed more than 1,000 square miles and were notable for the nearly complete consumption of vegetation in some places.  More than 650,000 acres of sagebrush grasslands in southern Idaho and northern Nevada burned before the fires were contained, making the Murphy Complex the largest wildland fire in Idaho since 1910. 

The fires affected grazing allotments; habitat for bull trout, bighorn sheep and sage-grouse; deer and elk winter range; watershed and riparian areas; and a number of cultural sites.

Emergency stabilization and rehabilitation of BLM-managed lands burned in the Murphy Complex wildfires began in the fall of 2007 and continues in partnership with grazing permittees and state agencies in Idaho and Nevada.

Stabilization & Rehabilitation

LINKS

Assessment Report

 A team of specialists and researchers assessed the extent and behavior of the Murphy Complex fires.  Click above for a summary of the findings. Click below to download the full report (USGS, 2008):

 http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1214/ 

 
BLM Fire and Aviation

National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)

Murphy and More Workshop
May 12-14, 2009 in Twin Falls

More than 100 scientists, ranchers, farmers, landowners, managers, emergency responders, fire managers, wildlife managers, conservationists and recreationists explored how land managers and researchers  are responding to the challenges large wildland fires create.   

BLM Great Basin Restoration Initiative

BLM Vegetation Treatment Programmatic EIS