Brunner Fire forces evacuations
Wildland firefighting aircraft fly over a quick-moving wildland fire Friday evening on Brunner Road west of U.S. 95. The fire prompted evacuations of Silverwood Theme Park and a number of residents in the area. JEROME POLLOS/Special to The Press
Paul Webster took this photo of a Boeing 737 dropping fire retardant on the fire near Diagonal Road outside Rathdrum. Courtesy photo
ATHOL — Aircraft and ground crews battled a wildfire adjacent to Silverwood Theme Park on Friday evening, with nearby residents urged to evacuate their homes.
The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and Idaho Department of Lands reported Friday night that the Brunner Fire remained at least 15 acres in size, with KCSO estimating that at one point, the fire had been roughly 50 acres in size.
Centered along Brunner Road and west of U.S. 95, effected areas are framed by Seasons and Diagonal roads (from north to south), and Warren to Clagstone roads (from west to east), KCSO reported.
The area is immediately west of Silverwood, where patrons were evacuated around 5 p.m. Friday as a precaution, officials said.
Residents in the region have been given "Level 3 (Leave Now)" evacuation notices, with KCSO deputies going door-to-door to homes in the area, IDL reported.
"There have been multiple areas where level 3 (immediate) evacuations have been made," KCSO Deputy Nick Franssen reported in a press release.
More than 120 emergency vehicles from area fire departments, the IDL and U.S. Forest Service have responded to the Brunner Fire, with seven aircraft attacking the blaze while there was still daylight, KCSO reported.
As of 9 p.m. Friday, KCSO had no estimates on the containment of the fire, or estimates on when evacuated residents can return to their homes.
No emergency evacuation centers had been opened, but they are being prepared in case they are needed, KCSO reported. The Kootenai County Fairgrounds has opened for emergency boarding of livestock.
KCSO reminded residents near the fire area to prepare for additional evacuations, prepping "go bags" with important items and emergency supplies. Deputies also asked residents to refrain from traveling through the area due to road closures and emergency vehicle traffic.
An 8 p.m. Friday post on Silverwood's Facebook page stated, "Silverwood will be open tomorrow, Saturday 7/24, unless we are told by local authorities that it is unsafe due to a fire in the area."
