Crews continue to battle North Idaho fires

Several of the Kootenai River Complex fires have grown together, U.S. Forest Service officials said Monday evening.

In total, the Russell Mountain and the Trout fires — now known as the Russell Mountain Fire — and the rest of the fires in the complex have burned an estimated 19,708 acres since they were sparked by lightning strikes.

"Fire activity on the Russell Mountain and Katka fires continues to be a low intensity, backing ground fire that has been slowly moving downhill," Forest Service officials said. "Firefighters continued to improve fireline and remained in place during both the day and night shifts to hold and suppress the fire as it reaches the fireline and Westside Road."

Officials said the Russell Mountain Fire has reached constructed fireline west of the Westside Road and the Westside Road in several locations between Trout Creek and Ball Creek roads.

"Crews have been successful holding the fire in these locations," officials said.

U.S. Forest Service officials said crews will be continuing to implement a point protection strategy through construction of a hand and mechanical fireline along Westside Road, and installing hose lays as required.

Crews also will continue with structure triage and prep installation of sprinkler systems to protect threatened structures along Westside Road.

However, due to poor access in steep, rugged terrain, alternative strategies are being assessed for the Katka and Debt areas.

Forest Service officials said crews will begin thinning vegetation in some areas along the west side of the Westside Road.

While helicopters are available for water delivery, wind and smoke conditions could prevent flying.

The Kootenai River Complex is being fought by Type 2 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 4, with 346 fire crews assigned to the fire.

Columbus and Bear Gulch Fires

Both the Columbus and Bear Gulch fires are being managed under a "confine, contain, and monitor strategy" with point protection being established, USFS officials said.

"Sprinklers have been set up for point protection around private values in the area, and suppression actions have occurred to check fire spread and contain spot fires," they said.

Once the fire crossed into Montana, the Cabinet Ranger District of the Kootenai National Forest joined to ensure priorities for both districts are being communicated to the incident commander on scene to ensure unified suppression operations.

Heavy equipment, including an excavator, dozer, and masticator, are working on Forest Service Roads 152 and 2222 on the Montana side. "This work will not only improve access for engines and equipment, but it also increases the defensibility of these road systems if need arises to use them as fireline."

Sparked by lightning in late August,the Columbus Fire, located on the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District has now burned an estimated 1,806 acres.

The nearby Bear Gulch Fire has burned an estimated 144 acres. Also caused by lightning, the fire is located 6 miles east of Murray.

Both fires are listed as zero percent contained.

Diamond Watch Fire

Containment of the Diamond Watch Fire, located 5.5 miles due west of Nordman, remains 49%. Due to the area's rugged, steep and dangerous terrain, the fire is being fought using a contained/confined strategy.

Containment lines have been completed on the west, east and southern edges of the fire and Diamond Creek is acting as a natural barrier on the fire's northern edge.

The fire has burned a total of 957 acres since it was sparked by a lightning strike in mid-July.

Priest Lake Ranger District engine crews are helping assigned firefighters patrol the almost 7 miles of containment lines.

Boulder Mountain Fire

Crews made gains on the Boulder Mountain Fire, bringing containment to 21 percent, Forest Service officials said. Located on the Colville National Forest, the fire has burned 2,175 acres.

A total if 505 personnel are assigned to the fire, which is impacting a mix of state, federal and private lands in the Tacoma Creek and Boulder Mountain area.

Thor Fire

Now a mix of four fires — Thor, Slate, Salmo and Gypsy Ridge — the fires have burned a combined 2,210 acres with 50 personnel assigned to the fire.

The largest of the fires, the Thor Fire, has burned 1,276 acres; the Slate Fire, 597; Salmo, 320; and Gypsy Ridge, 17.

"The fires are not threatening critical infrastructure, wildlife habitat, nor watershed integrity," Forest Service officials said. "Further trail closures, however, are planned as public safety remains the highest priority."

Closure, evacuations and information

• On the Kootenai River Complex, the following Forest Service trails and roads are closed: Ball Creek Road (FR 432), Trout Creek Road (FR 634), Russell Mountain (No. 12), Russell Ridge (No. 92), Ball and Pyramid Lakes (No. 43), Pyramid Pass (No. 13), Pyramid Peak (No. 7), Fisher Peak (No. 27), Trout Lake (No. 41), McGinty Ridge (No. 143), Clifty Mountain and Clifty/Burrow (No. 182), Myrtle Peak Trail (No. 286), and Burton Peak Trail (No. 9).

Westside Road is limited to residents only. While there are no evacuations in place, those living on Westside Road closest to Ball, Burton and Clark creeks have been upgraded to "set" status under the Ready-Set-Go evacuation procedure.

Under ready, residents are advised to have a plan to evacuate if necessary, while set status asks residents to begin putting their plan into place. Under go status, residents are told to leave immediately due to an imminent threat.

• On the Diamond Watch Fire, closure orders are in effect for Forest Service roads 311, 308, and 1362H in the vicinity of the fire. However, FSR 1362 remains open. Petit Lake and is associated campsites are within the closure area.

Some camping areas along the southwest portion of Sullivan Creek Road have been notified that they are on a “set” be ready evacuation status and should be ready to leave if asked by local authorities.

• On the Thor Fire, roads connecting to the Idaho Panhandle National Forest are closed starting at the junction of FSR 302 and FSR 1013.

• On the Coeur d'Alene Ranger District, closures include Trail 148 along Casper Creek, Trail 7 from the intersection with Trail 774 to Thompson Pass, Trail 1107 near the state line, Trail 763 near the state line, Forest Service Road 938, FSR 430 and FSR 604CZ.

• All methods of travel are prohibited (foot, mechanized, motorized and stock) on the closed roads and area.

• A temporary flight restriction is in place on the Katka Fire as well as on Scotch Creek, Russell Mountain, Eneas Peak and Trout fires. As a reminder, civilian drones are not allowed around active fires. Flying drones near an emergency scene is against the law and forces fire crews to ground their flights.

• A fire watch is in effect Tuesday through Wednesday evenings, with dry and unstable weather conditions predicted. In addition, gusty winds and dry conditions are predicted for Wednesday.

• Current evacuation status information in Boundary County is available in a recorded message on the Boundary County Emergency Information Line at 208-696-BOCO (2626)

Information: InciWeb.nwcg.gov