Slight gains made on area fires

SANDPOINT — The wildfires burning in the state have remained ”persistent” with no end in sight for containment on many of them. The hot, dry weather has been a cause of concern, and rain and thunderstorms are anticipated over the weekend.

”It’s still amazing to me how persistent fire is,” Maddox said.

A fire weather watch is in effect for the panhandle of Idaho Wednesday, and the air quality alert may move from unhealthy to hazardous levels, officials said.

The Parker Ridge Fire, about 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, has held at 6,222 acres since Sunday, but Kary Maddox said that number did increase slightly Wednesday. The fire is still showing at 27 percent containment, a number that officials don’t take lightly. Maddox said a group of people come together and decide what parts of the fire ”they have a handle on.”

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