Thunderstorms have officials on high alert

SANDPOINT — Although the fire danger in the northern Panhandle remains high, there are no active wildfires, unlike many other parts of the West.

Chris Remsen, an Idaho Department of Lands fire warden for the Lake Pend Oreille area, said wetting rains earlier this month and a lack of lightning strikes have helped keep things quiet up here.

“Lightning hasn’t hit us and the burners have been very good,” said Remsen.

Burn permits remain suspended and fire managers are, as always, keeping a close eye on the weather forecast.

The National Weather Service in Spokane is forecasting a 20-percent chance of thunderstorms tonight through Wednesday.

Additional fire-fighting resources from the Idaho Department of Lands and the U.S. Forest Service are being brought into the Panhandle, according to Sally Estes, manager of the Coeur d’Alene Interagency Dispatch Center.

“Three Type 6 engines were brought in to the support the northern portion of the zone,” said Estes.

There are two active wildfires burning in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, according to InciWeb, an interagency all-risk fire information website.

The Cottonwood Creek fire west of Grangeville has affected 166 acres. The creeping and smoldering wildfire has moderate growth potential.

The Crescendo fire south Avery has charred 1,100 acres. The fire is creeping, although it is rated as having a low growth potential.

Both fires were touched off by lightning strikes and are burning in difficult terrain.

In Montana, there are active wildfires under way in the Lolo, Flathead, Bitterroot and Nez Perce national forests, InciWeb reports.

n Info:  http://gacc.nifc.gov/nrcc/dc/idcdc/