Hot weather, winds challenge firefighters

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Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the most current information from the Trestle Creek Complex near Hope as of Sunday morning.

Fire activity kicked up a notch in the area as continued hot weather and Saturday winds added to the challenges being faced by fire crews.

An excessive heat warning has blanketed the area for the past few days, allowing for continued growth of fires in the region. Afternoon winds could cause increased fire activity and create the potential for spotting, fire officials said on InciWeb, an interagency fire tracking website.

Major fires on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests include:

Character Complex

Fire officials said Saturday was a critical day in terms of weather and potential fire behavior on the Character Complex Fire, comprised of two fires — the Deceitful, 3 miles north of Kellogg and a mile south of the north fork of the Coeur d'Alene River, and the Prichard, a mile from Eagle.

"Fire behavior [Saturday] resulted in short uphill runs, group torching, isolated torching, short and medium-range spotting, and continued backing and flanking fire," officials said on InciWeb.

While growth continues to be checked on the south and southeast sides of the Deceitful Fire, below White Peak, the fire continues to back and flank unchecked to the north and east down Cedar Creek, Lansdale Creek, and Montgomery Gulch, with fire passing the BPA corridor. Active backing and flanking continues near the mouth of Graham Creek, downhill toward the north fork of the Coeur d'Alene River.

Near the mouth of Cedar Creek, officials said the fire has reached the old River Road and is flanking to the west above the area. It also continues to flank underneath the BPA powerline in the Cinnabar Creek area, and is approaching the Avista powerline right-of-way on the north flank.

On the Prichard Fire, fuels continue to burn out within the control lines. While increased smoke volume was observed on the interior of the fire Saturday, the greatest threat on the Prichard Fire comes from torching trees causing spot fires outside of the control lines, officials said.

Fires in the complex have burned 6,859 acres with the fire estimated at 30% containment.

Stateline Complex

Located about 6 miles southwest of St. Regis, Montana, the 12 fires which make up the Stateline Complex Fires have burned 6,128 fires

Like other fires in the region, Saturday was a critical fire weather day with temperatures about 15 degrees above normal and ridgetop winds gusting over 20 mph. The fire showed active behavior Saturday with the Tumbledown Fire being the most active.

Expected cloud cover on Sunday is expected to moderate fire behavior. Cloudy conditions should slow drying and continue that trend.

However, the 72-hour forecast calls for a drying trend resulting in dry fuels and a return spread of the fire.

"Activity will begin to increase with full sun and reduced smoke shading," officials said. "The fire area could see increased fire behavior."

Pioneer Fire

On the Pioneer Fire, located 2 miles northwest of Priest River, about 31 homes remain under evacuation orders. A total of 146 personnel have been assigned to the fire which has burned an estimated 358 acres as of Saturday morning.

Detected Thursday afternoon, the fire is burning in steep terrain comprised of light logging slash and mixed conifer timber.

Crews are attacking the fire with everything from dozers and engines to hand crews and aerial support as needed, Caroline McGough, North Idaho Type 3 IMT public information officer.

The team took over control of the fire early Saturday morning and crews have been working to build firelines as well as efforts to protect structures near the wildfire.

Trestle Creek Complex

On the Trestle Creek Complex Fire, evacuate now orders were given early Sunday morning for residents living on Trestle Creek Road and Trestle Creek Lane, and from Star Ridge down to Highway 200.

The fire, located 8 miles northeast of Hope, has burned 479 acres since it was first reported on July 9 following a lightning storm in the region. While most of the fires in the complex have been contained, Trestle Fire 6 — the largest of the bunch — remains at 0% containment.

Crews are working to create a fireline around Trestle Fire 6 as it continues to creep across the terrain, allowing for group torching, throwing spot fires and back down into Falls and Lightning creeks. In addition, a fuel break is being created along Lightning Creek Road, fire officials said on the website.

Larkins Complex

Located about 20 miles southeast of Avery, the Larkins Complex, comprised of 12 separate fires, has burned about 2,500 acres.

There is moderate torching, flanking and backing on the fire, which is located on the St. Joe Ranger District.

In addition, several large fires are burning on lands adjacent to the IPNF in Idaho and Montana, including the Burnt Peak Fire, which has burned 3,191 acres, 46% contained; the South Yaak Fire, which has burned 6,975 acres, 10% contained; the Cougar Rock Complex, which has burned 7,427 acres, 63% contained; and the Leland Complex Fire, 3,455 acres, 59% contained.