St. Joe Ranger District closes area due to wildfire activity

ST. MARIES — The Idaho Panhandle National Forest is temporarily closing National Forest System lands between the St. Joe River and Forest Service Road 201 from the south of Conrad Peak and Forest Service Road 322 to Timber Creek due to wildfire activity on the St. Joe Ranger District. Forest Service Road 303 will remain open at this time.

The Granite Fires are located on Granite Peak and Attention Peak on National Forest System lands between Forest Service Road 201 and the west bank of the St. Joe River. Driven primarily by wind, the Granite Peak Fire is at approximately 80 acres, and the Attention Peak fire is at approximately 30 acres. Caused by lightning, both fires are burning in timbered areas with large areas of dead and dying trees associated with pine beetle activity in lodgepole stands.

The St. Joe Ranger District currently has multiple personnel and equipment assigned to the incident. The fires are burning in steep terrain with a high volume of snags.

“Our crews are assessing opportunities to engage these fires where we can effectively and safely manage them while providing for public and firefighter safety,” said Matt Davis, St. Joe District Ranger.

If fire activity significantly increases, additional closures will be considered for public safety. The public is advised to avoid these areas and to use caution, if travel is warranted, as there will be fire traffic on Forest Service Roads 201, 303, and 322.