Community fire meeting today in Athol

A community meeting for the public about the Ridge Creek Fire is planned for 3 p.m. today at the Athol Community Center, 30355 Third St.

The meeting will also be live-streamed on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Facebook page, www.facebook.com/USFSIPNF

The Ridge Creek Fire, which began Aug. 3, involves 4,020 acres of forest system land roughly 3.5 miles east of the north tip of Hayden Lake, along Hayden Creek Road (Forest Service Road 437), from the Ridge Creek drainage south to South Chilco Mountain.

The Bunco area near the Ridge Creek Fire was upgraded Friday to a Level 2 "Get Set" evacuation status, and the Level 1 "Get Ready" zone has been expanded.

Hayden residents remain in Level 1 "Get Ready" status and no changes have been made to that area.

GET SET (Level 2) – means that you are alert to a significant threat in your area, that you are packed to leave and prepared to leave at a moment’s notice if you must evacuate. If you have livestock or special circumstances, you have begun to take the necessary steps to address these concerns and made arrangements to relocate livestock if necessary.

GET READY (Level 1) – The Ridge Creek Fire is in your area and it would be wise to consider planning and or packing in the event an evacuation becomes necessary. Residents are urged to create and maintain a defensible space and harden their home against the potential for wildfire. No additional action is needed.

Structure protection staff will be placing water-handling equipment in the Bunco and Trapper Creek areas as a precautionary measure.

Call 208-446-2292 for information, only call 911 for emergencies. Continue to monitor official sources for the most accurate information.

https://www.kcsheriff.com/186/Emergency-Management