Progress made on Tower Fire
PRIEST RIVER — Firefighters made progress Saturday on containing the Tower wildfire near Priest Lake, the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office reported on Saturday.
Squaw Valley Road is under a Level 2 evacuation alert, which means residents are urged to prepare to vacate the area quickly if conditions fire warrant.
The Priest Lake area, in addition to the area east and west of Bear Paw Road, is under a Level 1 evacuation alert, which means people in the area should be aware of the danger the Tower fire presents and to keep close tabs on fire information.
The sheriff’s office said the Tower fire is 8,685 acres and 5-percent contained, a 3-percent improvement over Friday’s estimate. Firefighters on the east side of the lake reinforced suppression lines and continue to extend bulldozer lines between the fire and developed areas.
The incident management team started receiving reinforcements. The sheriff’s office said there are 262 firefighters assigned to the fire and approximately 300 active duty U.S. Army personnel were slated to arrive overnight to assist with fire-suppression efforts.
Earlier on Saturday, the U.S. Forest Service released the following update on wildfires burning in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest:
n Tower Fire
The Kaniksu Complex is 9,906 acres and includes Baldy, Greece Creek, Onata Creek and Tower.
The Tower Fire is 8,685 acres and is all in Washington. Containment was estimated at 2 percent. The fire started in Colville National Forest and is visible from Priest Lake. Area Command is in place for fires in the Colville National Forest.
The Colville National Forest is managing the fire with guidance from Idaho Panhandle National fire management. On Friday, the fire grew about 400 acres due to winds. With Saturday’s weather, moderate rates of fire spread are expected mainly to the west and north.
Firefighters are building hand line and dozer line around the south and north corners of the fire. A major effort that crews are undertaking today is to work towards connecting the dozer line on the south corner to the planned east containment line. Three hundred military personnel will join the incident to assist residents with “FireWise” work around their homes.
Tower Fire Evacuation Notices Pend Oreille County Sheriff Department Bear Paw vicinity: Level 1 (Get Ready). Bonner County Sheriff Department Big Meadow and vicinity: Level 2 (Get Set) Residents should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Bonner County Level 1 for: Highway 57 corridor north (of Dickensheet Road) Highway 57 corridor couth (of Dickensheet). A portion of the Newport Ranger District of the Colville National Forest is closed.
Fire Information: (907) 750-1639 or towerfireinfo@gmail.com.
n Clark Fork Complex
This series of fires east of Lake Pend Oreille was at 11,589 acres on Saturday and no containment has been attained.
A Type 2 IMT is working the fire and closures are in effect. However, there are no evacuations and no structures in Idaho are immediately threatened.
Scotchman Peak Fire — 2,616 acres. It started on Aug. 13, 4 miles northeast of Clark Fork, north of Highway 200. The southwest flank of the fire has crossed over the southern ridge of the peak and is slowly backing down the hill to the southwest. Friday’s precipitation slowed its movement.
Excellent progress was made on completing the contingency line along the foot of the slope. The fire continues to burn on the east side of the Peak in the Blue Creek drainage. A structure assessment/protection plan is being developed.
Whitetail Fire — 927 acres. This fire is located south of Highway 200 and 9 miles south of Clark Fork, 8 miles southwest of Heron, Montana. The fire exhibited some torching but little movement on Friday.
Firefighters worked on the northwest flank assisted by aerial drops of fire retardant. The fire is burning southeast of Whitetail Peak in the Deer Creek area. With assistance from helicopters to control spotting, crews continue to improve the line along the Forest Service Road No. 332 road and hold the fire south of 332.
Marten Fire — 5 acres. This fire started Aug. 19 to the west of the Whitetail Fire. On Friday, aerial drops of fire retardant significantly decreased fire activity.
Information: (406) 210-9225 or (406) 827-0738 (phone coverage is limited please call back if not connected)
n Parker Ridge Fire
The Parker Ridge Fire northwest of Bonners Ferry was at 6,147 acres with containment estimated at 27 percent.
A Type 3 Incident Management Team of firefighters is establishing hand and bulldozer lines on the north and south flanks of the fire were tested in light of recent winds and they held.
Fire activity was moderate Friday and will continue to spread up drainages and back downslopes in both Long Creek and in Parker Creek drainages with short uphill runs to top of ridge on Saturday.
The fire is expected to grow to the west and south in the Parker Creek drainage. Firefighters are using a confine/contain strategy due to the high number of beetle killed lodgepole pine (90 percent) which affects safety. Fire crews will continue building line, mop up, and structure protection near Smith Creek. Felling operations on the Westside Road continue. Night operations will continue. Closures are in effect.
Stage II voluntary evacuations on the Westside Road have been reduced to Stage I Alert. Information: 208-267-6773 Email: parkerridgefireinfo@gmail.com Personnel: 123.