Bluff Creek Complex closures to end

All closures related to the Bluff Creek Complex are expected to be rescinded by the end of this week, according to a release from the Idaho Panhandle National Forest on Monday.  

The complex is made of four smaller fires, which were believed to have been ignited by lightning strikes July 25. They eventually grew to 432 acres in the southern region of Shoshone County.    

According to the IPNF, all area closures, including those of the Gold Flat undeveloped campsite along the St. Joe River and several forest roads in the Bluff Creek area, as well as a closure of the Trail 80 trailhead along Simmons Creek 8 miles north of Red Ives Cabin, will be reopened Saturday.  

The Buffalo and East Fork fires were two of the four fires that made up the complex, and, as of Monday, they have been 100% contained. The nearby Junction Fire is not quite contained as fire crews continue to secure a complete perimeter and establish erosion control measures.  

The fourth fire, the Dominion Point Fire, is still showing no containment, but according to the release from IPNF, this isn’t cause for concern.  

“The Dominion Point Fire has no containment because the fire has not reached the firelines, which is a defining feature of containment,” the release reads. “However, firefighters have established indirect fireline around the entire fire and crews have been working to improve those lines with mastication along roads, installing fire hose along hand and machine lines, and improving ingress and egress for firefighters working on the firelines.” 

Heavy precipitation over the previous weekend aided fire crews in controlling the blazes, and with rain in the forecast, officials expect none of the fires should grow or reach the established fire line. 

Further details on these closures including maps of the closed roads and trails can be found on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest’s website, www.fs.usda.gov, under the ‘alerts’ tab.