Thursday, March 28, 2024
37.0°F

Area fires burn over 6,000 acres

by ANNISA KEITH
Staff Writer | July 29, 2021 1:00 AM

Three wildfires continue to burn to the east of Bonner County. As of Wednesday evening the last fire in the Trestle Creek Complex, Trestle 6, has burned 479-acres and remains 37% contained. Authority over fighting the blaze has been returned to Sandpoint Ranger District from the Nevada Incident Management team due to the other five fires in the complex being contained. Twenty-one fire personnel are fighting the blaze north of the Hope area. Road and trail closures remain in effect for the area.

The Trestle Creek Complex was ignited by lightning strikes on July 7.

Also ignited by lightning on July 7 is The Burnt Peak fire. Burning at 3,002-acres, Great Basin Team #4 with 240 crew members are combating the blaze directly on the fire line as well as indirectly on the perimeter. As of Wednesday evening, the Burnt Peak fire is 31% contained. Road closures remain in effect in the vicinity, and pre-evacuation orders for North Fork Keeler residents are in place.

Great Basin Team #4 is also managing the South Yaak Fire, which is 56 miles north of Burnt Peak fire. Now 20% contained, the South Yaak fire has burned 3,382-acres. The South Yaak fire was ignited by lightning strike on July 13. One-hundred sixty-six fire personnel are fighting the fire that is four miles northwest of Troy, Montana. Evacuation orders are in effect for Kilbrennan Lake Road and East Side Road.