Custer County Emergency Management

10/01/2026

We are very thankful for all the many entities that work together to make everyone’s job a little easier.

09/24/2026

Earlier this month, a Michigan woman was sentenced to 6 months in prison after a jury convicted her of major disaster fraud. She falsely claimed her Florida vacation home was her primary residence and received nearly $50,000 in FEMA disaster assistance after Hurricane Ian. Bank, airline and casino records showed she only spent winters in Florida.

This case is part of a much broader effort. In 2025, FEMA investigated more than 2,000 fraud cases. We continue to improve how we identify suspicious activity, protect American taxpayer dollars, and make sure disaster assistance reaches eligible survivors.

Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, Vice President JD Vance & Secretary Markwayne Mullin, we are cracking down on disaster fraud alongside Department of Homeland Security, The United States Department of Justice, the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud & Executive Director Scott Brady. Together, we are holding criminals accountable.

Learn more in our recent news release: fema.gov/press-release/20260923/michigan-woman-sentenced-prison-trump-administration-fema-continue-crack-down

09/24/2026

End of the season

As the summer draws to a close, we want to make visitors aware of changing hours on the the . The Headquarter’s Visitor Center in Ketchum will close to the public Sep. 25. The Stanley Museum will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. this weekend, then close to the public Sep. 28. The Redfish Visitor Center is open daily 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., but will also close to the public Sep. 28.

Visitor assistance will be available at the Ketchum Ranger District, which will remain open 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Hours of operations for our other offices are available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/offices.

09/22/2026

Road open

Custer Motorway is now open, the project has been completed.

09/22/2026

Sawtooth National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations this fall, pending all required approvals.

Learn more about where treatments will take place: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/newsroom/releases/sawtooth-national-forest-plans-prescribed-fires

09/22/2026

One Down

Press Release: BCSO to Remove Flock ALPR inside Carey City Limits

HAILEY, Idaho — Transparency and community engagement are essential to public safety. Guided by those principles, Blaine County Sheriff Morgan Ballis today announced that the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) has directed Flock Safety to remove an automated license plate reader (ALPR) camera located within Carey city limits and will provide written notice that the office’s current Flock contract will not auto-renew when it expires in March 2027.

BCSO currently operates a total of 16 ALPR cameras across Blaine County, Idaho. One of those cameras is located within Carey city limits at U.S. Highway 20 and Greenfield Way in Carey. Although the camera sits inside Carey city limits, it is on Idaho Transportation Department property. Because of that technicality, Carey elected officials and residents were not included in conversations or approvals regarding the camera’s placement. Sheriff Ballis said he learned of these circumstances over the past three months while meeting with Carey elected officials.

Former Blaine County Sheriff Steve Harkins signed the Flock contract in September 2024. The two-year agreement officially began in March 2025 and expires in March 2027. The contract includes an auto-renewal clause if written notice of termination is not provided. The camera locations and installation plans were established before Sheriff Ballis took office in January 2025.

The contract costs approximately $60,000 per year and has been funded with civil forfeiture funds held outside the Commissioner-approved BCSO annual budget. The original intent of using forfeiture funds for the first contract was to collect data on the impact of ALPR cameras before requesting that the cost be added to the annual budget. An unintended consequence of that approach was that the public did not have an opportunity to ask questions or provide input before the cameras were deployed.

Sheriff Ballis has met with dozens of Blaine County residents individually and in group settings over the past several months. As a result of those conversations, Sheriff Ballis has directed BCSO staff to take the following actions:

1. Flock has been directed to remove the camera placed in Carey city limits at U.S. Highway 20 and Greenfield Way in Carey. BCSO is waiting on a confirmed removal timeline. If that timeline is not reasonable, BCSO will consider additional actions.
2. BCSO will continue the current Flock ALPR contract through March 2027. Flock will be given written notice that the contract will not be auto-renewed in March 2027.
3. BCSO will coordinate with Blaine County Commissioners to provide an opportunity for public discussion before making a final decision on whether to continue the Flock ALPR contract.
4. BCSO will engage Blaine County Commissioners on sustainable funding sources should the Flock ALPR contract be continued.

“Community trust depends on transparency and local input,” said Sheriff Ballis. “I inherited this contract and these camera locations. After speaking with Carey officials and residents across Blaine County, it is clear we need to correct the placement in Carey and give the public a clear path forward when this agreement ends.”

Sheriff Morgan Ballis

Posted: 3:30 p.m. on September 21, 2026
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Holly Carter
Public Information Officer
Blaine County Sheriff’s Office (208) 788-5536
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09/22/2026

Search in progress

09/19/2026

Join the team

🔥 WE'RE HIRING: Wildland Fire Positions 🔥
The Sawtooth National Forest is looking for dedicated individuals to join our team! You'll play a critical role in our fire program, protecting communities and supporting forest health in Idaho. If you're committed to teamwork, public service, and fire management, we want to hear from you.

🌲OPEN POSITIONS
Permanent full-time and permanent career seasonal General Firefighter, Handcrew, Hotshot, Helitack, Engine, Dispatch, Prevention, Fuels, and Fire Management positions are available.

💻 ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS THRU SEP. 22, 2026
▪ Login to https://www.usajobs.gov/
▪ Search keyword "27-FIRE" to see all available positions.
▪ Enter Idaho or more specific locations -- Burley, Fairfield, Jerome, Ketchum, Shoshone, and Stanley – to pinpoint available positions on Sawtooth National Forest.

ℹ️ LEARN MORE
Learn more about the Sawtooth National Forest by visiting our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth. For benefits, information about working in wildland fire, or more information about the USDA Forest Service, visit www.fs.usda.gov.

09/19/2026

Have a plan

As Idahoans head out to the backroads, an all-volunteer group stands ready around the clock to help if they get the call.

Idaho News 6 reporter Steve Dent sat in on a free course from Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue to learn more about the importance of having a trip plan and following the 10 essentials.

He filed this report: ⬇️

09/18/2026

Come join us and see what questions you may have that you can get answered.