Crews battling Upper Smith Fire

BONNERS FERRY — Burning in steep, rugged terrain, the Upper Smith Fire is steadily growing in northern Boundary County, Idaho Panhandle National Forest officials told the large crowd of area residents at a community meeting Monday.

"We say it a lot, but as the saying goes, you know this is this is going to be a marathon, not a sprint," Bonners Ferry District Ranger Heather Fuller told those gathered. "This fire is in a tough spot. We're throwing what we can at it, and we're working on plans to try to put it out or keep it where it's at, and not have adverse impacts to those critical values at risk."