NWS: Winds could fan Panhandle wildfires
SANDPOINT — Wildfire managers across the region are bracing for forecasted high winds this weekend.
An intense storm is anticipated to move across the area today, creating very windy conditions, according to the National Weather Service in Spokane. Low relative humidity is also forecasted.
Winds are expected to reach 25-35 mph with gusts as high as 45-60 mph. Gusts in the mountains could reach 65 mph. Relative humidities could be 20-30 percent in the valleys and 30-40 percent in the mountains.
Windy conditions and low relative humidities can result in rapid growth on existing fires and any new ignitions, the weather service said.
The Idaho Panhandle National Forests released the following updates on fires burning on Friday:
• Tower Fire — This conflagration, which is part of the interstate Kaniksu Complex near Priest Lake, was at 17,510 acres. The Tower portion of the complex was at 14,671 acres with containment estimated at 10 percent.
On Thursday, firefighters and their U.S. Army counterparts spent the day fortifying a bulldozer line from Brown’s Lake south. North of there, from the west end of Brown’s Lake up Road No. 100, soldiers performed mop-up work while a hot shot crew did some burnouts to strengthen the fire line along the Cee Cee Ah Creek Road.
On the northeast end of the fire, crews strengthened lines along Squaw Valley Road and burned out pockets of green fuels to widen the fire break.
• Clark Fork Complex — This series of fires was at 14,800 acres and its containment was estimated at 35 percent. Most of the fires had limited expansion in acreage and the total complex grew by approximately 1,000 acres.
The Whitetail Fire portion of the complex south of Highway 200 and Clark Fork moved slowly to the east into the Blacktail Creek drainage.
Hot shot crews used equipment to extend the line along Road No. 332 and built hand-line below the Scotchman Peak fire. Infrared photography located a spot fire to the east of Whitetail Fire.
A Stage 1 evacuation notice remains in effect south of the Clark Fork River.
• Parker Ridge — This fire in Boundary County was at 6,252 acres on Friday with containment estimated at 27-percent containment.
The fire has grown by about 30 acres over Thursday and Friday due to the fire backing downslope and then making short uphill runs to the top of the ridge on Long Canyon side of Parker Ridge, according to officials.
The containment percentage was unchanged, although U.S. Forest Service officials said crews were making good progress building fire line along the north and northeast flanks near Long Canyon Ridge. They have also been making progress with line building and mopping up along the southern flank.
Air and ground resources will continue to scout the area and felling operations will continue to remove hazard trees.