Rain helps firefighters, closures still in effect
SANDPOINT - Cool, rainy weather is expected to help firefighters battling a number of wildfires around the region.
However, due to the extremely dry conditions and spotty rain events, forest closures remain in effect and fire managers continue to actively monitor and evaluate the current and predicted conditions.
The Idaho Panhandle National Forests released the following updates on fires burning Monday:
* Parker Ridge Fire - The fire, which has burned 6,675 acres, is 55 percent contained. Located about 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry and seven miles southwest of Porthill, there are 62 fire personnel battling the fire.
Fire behavior is minimal, with some smoldering. Crews will continue mop-up and full suppression strategy, where feasible. Rehabilitation work on fire lines is nearing completion.
* Clark Fork Complex - The fire, which has burned 15,744 acres, is 75 percent contained. Straddling the border between North Idaho and northwestern Montana, there are 164 fire personnel fighting the fire.
The complex includes the following fires with most recent acreage updates: Scotchman Peak, 2,057 acres; Whitetail, 1,870 acres; Sawtooth, 2,465 acres; Marten Creek, 6 acres; Napolean, 8,957; and Government, 399 acres. Fire activity has remained light and crews plan to begin preliminary rehabilitation work where appropriate.
* Avery Fire Complex - The fire, which has burned 5,102 acres, is 26 percent containment. A Type 2 Incident Management Team is in place for the fire, located in the southeastern portion of the St. Joe Ranger District. The fire, which was started by a lightning strike Aug. 11, is located about 7 miles southwest of Avery. There are 455 firefighters battling the blaze.
The complex now includes four fires: Pretty, 256 acres; Marble Creek, 2,919 acres; Crater, 593 acres; and Breezy, 1,408 acres. Crews are making good progress on construction of fire lines; however, Pretty and Crater fires remain unstaffed. Road and area closures remain in effect.
* Tower Fire - Part of the Kaniksu Complex, the Tower Fire has burned 24,296 acres and is at 35 percent containment.
The Kaniksu Complex has burned a total of 26,175 acres and is 40 percent completed. The fire was started by a lightning strike on Aug. 11 and is located 17 miles north of Newport and 6 miles west of Priest Lake. There are 773 firefighters battling the fire.
The Kaniksu Complex includes the following fires: Baldy, 515 acres, 100 percent containment; Onata, 546 acres, 100 percent containment; Hall Mountain, 39 acres; Grease Creek, 611 acres, 13 percent containment; Slate Creek, 1 acre; and South Fork Slate Creek Trail, 167 acres.
Colville National Forest crews are managing the fire with guidance from Idaho Panhandle National Forests fire management. Crews are beginning work on rehabilitation of fire lines.
* Grizzly Complex - The fire, which has burned 18,648 acres, is 14 percent completed. Located between Enaville and Murray in the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River drainage near Grizzly Peak, there area 146 firefighters on the fire.
All of the initial fire starts have since been contained or grown together, and the complex now consists of three larger fires and three medium fires: Lower Flat Fire, 6,764 acres; South Bobtail, 6,262 acres; North Grizzly, 3,709 acres; Grassy Mountain, 835 acres; White Rock Creek, 752 acres; Steep Creek, 295 acres; and other small fires combined, 31 acres.
Fire activity is minimal; crews are felling hazard trees and performing fire suppression rehabilitation where it is safe to do so. Closures remain in effect. A Stage 1 evacuation notice continues to be in effect in Shoshone County for the Hope Valley Road residents near Trout Creek, Mont.
* Monument - The fire, which has burned 618 acres, is at 75 percent containment. Located on Monument Peak 15 miles north of Rose Lake on the Coeur d'Alene River Road, there is minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Road, area and trail closures in effect.
This will be the last update for the Monument fire unless significant activity occurs. Fire personnel will continue to monitor the fire.
* Snow Peak Complex: Total acreage for complex: 6,750 acres, 0 percent completed.
The Snow Peak Complex is comprised of 11 separate fires within the southeastern portion of the St. Joe Ranger District including the Snow Peak Wildlife Management Area, upper portion of the Mallard Larkins Pioneer Area, and the Ruby Point to Yankee Peak area south of the St. Joe River., Ruby Point, Basin Creek, Trail 55, Caribou, Lightning Ridge, Chicadee, Game, Pole Creek, and My Ruby fires.
A major portion of this complex consists of the Chicadee Fire, which has burned 5,393 acres. Due to terrain, limited resources, and no immediate threats to life and structures, the Snow Peak Complex does not have firefighters on the ground.
The Snow Peak Complex area is currently closed to all public access. Due to limited staffing and resources on this fire, acreage and containment updates will only be reported weekly, Thursdays).
* Last Inch - The fire has burned 689 acres and is at 85 percent containment. The fire is located 12 miles east of Clarkia in Glover Creek/Woesner Ridge and into west Floodwater Creek drainage. There are 57 firefighters on the wildfire.
Fire activity is minimal and crews were working full speed Monday.