The Rock Fire was detected at 12:37 a.m. on August 13, 2025. It was one of several lightning-caused fires that started between the evening of August 12 and the early morning hours of August 13 across the Boise and Payette National Forests. Located approximately 1.5 miles south of Tamarack Resort, some of the smaller fires in the area were extinguished, while others merged into what is now the Rock Fire.

The fire is burning in rugged, mountainous terrain, with steep slopes on the northwest and southeast flanks. The subalpine fir understory holds a heavy load of dead and downed fuels, contributing to challenging fire behavior and intensity. 

Evacuations

Three Valley County evacuation zones were set to "Ready" status by the Valley County Sheriff on August 13 and remain in place. Residents and visitors are encouraged to stay alert to changing conditions and follow all local authority guidance. For the most up-to-date evacuation and closure information, please visit: Valley County Evacuation Map. 

Closures

The Boise National Forest and Payette National Forest implemented an area, road, and trail closure and can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/boise/alerts/rock-fire-area-road-and-trail-closure and https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/payette/alerts.