Weather aids firefighters

BONNERS FERRY — Crews working the forest fire burning on the North Bench continued to mop up hot spots Friday with the help of cooler temperatures and scattered showers.

Fire crews reported very little fire activity, according to the Idaho Department of Lands.

The 108-acre fire was more than 50-percent contained as of Friday afternoon with about 85 acres actually burned, IDL said. Fire officials expect to have the blaze contained by today.

There are some 130 people working the fire, including six hand crews and assorted overhead. Seven engines and two water tenders have been deployed and a Type 3 Incident Management Organization is in place under the leadership of Don Gunter.

Incident command will transition from the Type 3 team to IDL staff in Bonners Ferry when appropriate.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation and officials are reminding forest visitors to use caution. They are also encouraging homeowners to maintain a defensible space around homes and structures so firefighters can gain the upper hand.

? For information on protecting your home from a wildfire, contact Boundary County Firesafe at (208) 267-2785 or visit your local IDL office.