Fire season underway in North Idaho

Wildfire activity increased over the weekend across the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

Above-average temperatures and below-normal precipitation in the last two months have created unseasonably dry fuel conditions and active fire behavior. Numerous fires received a successful initial attack response over the weekend and are in "controlled" or "out" status. The majority of fires were lightning-caused holdovers, but at least two human-caused starts have also been confirmed, one near Hayden Creek and the other near Hudlow Saddle.

Remember, never leave a campfire unattended, and fireworks and exploding targets are always illegal on National Forests. We are well into summertime when extra care is needed to prevent human-caused wildfires.

Activity across the Idaho Panhandle National Forests includes:

Priest Lake Ranger District: The Consalus Fire was reported 6/30. It is estimated at 50 acres, burning in heavy dead and down timber. It is located above Consalus Creek, near the Pelke Divide, in Pend Oreille County, Wash. A 10-person district module, a 20-person crew from Grangeville, a dozer, and an excavator are engaged in direct suppression efforts. Two additional 20-person crews will arrive today.

Sandpoint Ranger District: The Bee Top Fire was reported 7/1 and is currently estimated at 25 acres. The fire is located near Bee Top Mountain, approximately 5 miles up Lightning Creek, outside Clark Fork. District resources and smokejumpers are currently engaged in direct suppression action on the fire, with the Boise Hotshots en route. Additional resources have been ordered, including a Type 3 Incident Management Team from the Northern Rockies, who will be assuming command of the fire.

Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District: The Hill Creek Fire, located near Bumblebee Peak, above the Little North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River, was contained at 0.4 acres by firefighters from the district, Idaho Dept. of Lands, and Panhandle Helitack. The Buckskin Fire, located at the north end of the district near the confluence of Buckskin Creek and the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River was controlled at 0.2 acres by district resources. The Big Elk Fire, located near Leiberg Saddle is 0.82 acres and expected to have fireline completed by the end of the day. Containment and control will be challenging due to dead and down timber and a heavy snag load. A 20-person crew has been ordered to support.

Current aviation assets assigned to the Coeur d'Alene dispatch zone include one Type-1, one Type-2, and one Type-3 helicopter, two Firebosses, two Superscoopers, and two Air Attack platforms (aircraft, pilot & air tactical supervisor) to coordinate aviation firefighting efforts. Aviation assets are being shared and prioritized across the zone.

When recreating on the beautiful waterways in our region, please keep your eyes out for firefighting aircraft and give them plenty of room to work. Whether scooping or filling buckets, all aircraft need plenty of room to maneuver and operate safely. Any interference wastes valuable time in firefighting efforts and creates a hazard for both boaters and pilots.