Parkway Fire 100% contained

The Parkway Fire that began Friday just west of Q’emiln Park in Post Falls is now 100% contained.

Idaho Department of Lands reported emergency management crews will turn command back over to local authorities to fully extinguish the blaze.

“From the moment the Parkway Fire was discovered, it was all hands on deck,” Incident Commander Nate Rogers said in a Department of Lands news release this morning. “Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Kootenai County Emergency Management, Post Falls Police Department and so many more contributed to this success, saving lives and property.”

Heavy air attack played a pivotal role in giving firefighters the time and physical space they needed to save structures.

“Aircraft provided by the U.S. Forest Service in the first hours of the attack were especially helpful,” Rogers said.

The new concern for firefighters is the destruction that lies in the fire's wake.

The Department of Lands shared data and mapping from the fire with the Post Falls Parks and Recreation Department, which will use the data to guide recovery plans in the park and on the trails. Parks and Rec can also use the data to create maps to warn users of any closed or unsafe trails.

The fire charred many trees that are now at risk of falling. Work to remove them will begin with firefighters taking down the worst of them, Idaho Department of Lands Communications Chief Scott Phillips said. More will have to be removed before winter poses a threat to felling them unexpectedly. Rock slides are also a concern; through fall and spring, rain could cause mudslides in the now-damaged landscaping until vegetation begins to grow back and recover.

“City and state officials also hiked through burned areas to gain a better understanding of the damage and ongoing risks to the public,” the release continued. “On Thursday, park officials report they will install fencing along the western edge of the fire to cordon off some of the most dangerous areas.”

Post Falls Parks and Recreation will also develop a plan for safe access to the community forest using fire maps.

Post Falls Police investigators are still seeking tips about who lit the campfire that started the Parkway Fire. The campfire was located about a quarter of a mile to the north of West Riverview Drive in a steep rocky area of the park, just north of the designated trail in the area. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Post Falls Police Department at 208-773-3517 or email tips to detectives@postfallspolice.gov.