Trestle 6 and Burnt Peak still aflame, IDL issues guidance for those who want to help

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The Trestle 6 fire, the last of the fires from the Trestle Creek Complex, remained uncontained as of Monday.

The fire complex had burned a total of 436 acres as of the most recent update. Trestle 6 has remained difficult for firefighters to wrangle due to step terrain limiting on-the-ground access on the west slope.

According to the update on inciweb.nwcg.gov, the fire is expected to continue creeping, allowing for group torching of the subalpine fir. The fire is expected to continue back down into Falls Creek and Lightning Creek, and a masticator is creating a fuel break along the lightning Creek Road.

For public and firefighter safety, several trails including trail FS trails 26, 55, 57 and 120 from the FS 275 Road intersection to the FS 489 intersection have been closed. Violators may be fined up to $5,000 per individual and $10,000 for organizations.

Across the border in Montana, the Burnt Peak Fire has burned 2,715 acres and is 31% contained.

The fire, which burns on steep, timbered terrain on the south face of Burnt Peak in the Keeler Creek Drainage, is seeing active burning, short crown runs, group and isolated torching and short-range spotting as it progresses east.

Fire crews are using existing roads to try and contain the fire perimeter, according to information posted on InciWeb. The Kootenai National Forest has closed roads in the vicinity of the Burnt Peak Fire and a pre-evacuation notice was given to North Fork Keeler residents.

The fire is being managed by the Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team, which has a fire camp located adjacent to Highway 56. Travelers are asked to use caution, as heavy equipment will be leaving and entering the camp, especially in the mornings and evenings.

For those who wish to make donations to firefighters, the Idaho Department of Lands issued a statement stating they are seeking pallet-quantity donations of both bottled water and sports drinks with electrolytes. A typical pallet holds roughly 80 cases of water.

“Bottled water and sports drinks are in short supply and both are crucial for ensuring fire crews remain hydrated, so they can safely suppress fires,” a statement on the website said. “If you work for a business or belong to a community organization that can donate a pallet or more of these products, please reach out to us.”

Individuals who wish to help are encouraged to work with local groups such as clubs and churches to organize water and sports drink drives for pallet-level quantities of those donations.

“If your organization collects water or sports drinks, we can provide you with a pallet and stretch wrap for packaging the donation when you deliver it to the cache,” the statement said.

Companies with refrigerator trucks can also donate their vehicles for use, as the trucks are in short supply and needed to deliver ice from the Coeur d’Alene area to fire camps. At this time, ILD is not equipped to accept food donations.

Those unable to do physical work or partner with local organizations can also make monetary donations to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, which helps families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families.