Fire forces residents from homes

SANDPOINT — Several dozen residents in the Squaw Valley area near Priest Lake were evacuated Saturday after winds fanned the Tower Fire, pushing the 18,478-acre fire toward their homes.

“Significant winds hit the area and the fire took off on the Washington side headed into Idaho,” Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said.

After looking at conditions, crews on both sides of the border issued a Stage 3 evacuation notice for residents who lived within a mile of Squaw Valley Road. The notice advises residents to immediately leave and head somewhere safe; in this case, an evacuation center was set up at Priest Lake Lamanna High School.

Wheeler said about 20 homes were evacuated after the order was issued at 1 p.m.

A Stage 2, or voluntary, evacuation notice was issued to residents who live in the north Highway 57 area, which includes the Nordman community.

The remainder of the Priest Lake area remained under a Stage 1 evacuation alert, which advises residents to have important papers, medications and personal belongings gathered together and be ready to pack on a short notice if conditions worsen.

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FIRES

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By the time a community meeting on conditions on the Kaniksu Complex/Tower Fire began at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Wheeler said conditions in both areas had already been downgraded and residents were allowed to return to their homes.

About 300 people had gathered for the meeting.

In the Clark Fork area, winds also had the Clark Fork Complex fires poised to make a strong run but three hotshot crews on the Montana side of the border were able to get a handle on the fire and keep it from spreading, Wheeler said.

A Stage 1 evacuation notice remains in effect south of the Clark Fork River.

With rain in the forecast, Wheeler said there’s hope conditions could improve.

“We’re not out of the woods and we had some significant winds up in the Priest Lake area but crews did a great job and managed to get things under control,” said Wheeler.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests issued the following updates Saturday on fires burning in the area:

n The Tower Fire, along with six smaller fires, is part of the Kaniksu Complex, which has burned a total of 19,863 acres. Fires include the Baldy Fire, 16 miles north of Ione, 515 acres; Onata Fire, 8 miles east/southwest of Ione, 502 acres; Hall Mountain, 46 acres; Grease Creek Fire, south of Hall Mountain, 196 acres; Slate Creek, one acre, and South Fork Slate Creek, 125 acres, both near the northwest boundary of the Salmo-Priest Wilderness.

There are 765 firefighters assigned to the fire with 12 dozers, 21 engines, 10 water tenders, an air attack team, a skidgen and three helicopters.

The fire, started by a lightning strike on Aug. 11, is 10 percent contained.

Highway 57 is open to all traffic and all businesses, along with federal and state campgrounds at Priest Lake, are open.

n The Clark Fork Complex Fire, a collection of six fires, has burned roughly 14,845 acres. Fires include the Scotchman Peak Fire, 2,057 acres; Sawtooth Fire, 2,158 acres; Napoleon Fire, 8,499 acres; Whitetail Fire, 1,734 acres; Marten Creek Fire, 6 acres; and Government Fire, 391 acres.

A flight Saturday morning using infrared camera to better map the fires could not be taken, keeping estimates at existing levels.

The Marten Creek Fire is expected to stay with established fire lines, the Whitetail Fire was sheltered from much of the winds, and the Scotchman Peak Fire should continue to blow back onto itself. On the Napoleon, fires on the south flank were expected to be relatively protected from the winds.

Cool and cloudy conditions with scattered rain showers kept the Clark Fork Complex fires in check Friday. Saturday promised to be a critical day for firefighters with the winds forecast to reach gusts of 30-40 mph on ridgetops and unsheltered areas.

However, following the winds, forecasts are expected to mellow with cloudy skies, lower temperatures and elevated humidity, including a good chance of wetting rain.

n Parker Ridge Fire, located seven miles southwest of Porthill and north of Bonners Ferry

There are 82 personnel assigned to the fire, which has burned 6,252 acres since it was caused by lightning on July 29. The fire is 27 percent contained.

Utilizing infrared cameras, heavy equipment and engines, crews have been working to mop on a peat bog area that has been persistently smoldering due to the large amount of organic matter. The fire has been backing download and then making short uphill runs to the top of the ridge on the Long Canyon side of Parker Ridge.

While the containment percentage remains the same, crews are making good progress building fire line along the north and northeast flanks of the fire near Long Canyon Ridge.

Crews are also making progress building line and mopping up along the south flank of the fire near Parker Creek.