New wildfire burning near Priest River
A photo from the Prater Red 2 Fire, located about 11 miles northeast of Priest River. The fire, reported Thursday morning, burned about 75 acres by 5 p.m., IDL officials reported on their website. No structures are threatened and no evacuations are in place.
(Photo courtesy IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS)
PRIEST RIVER — Idaho Department of Lands fire crews are battling the Prater Red 2 Fire, located about 10 miles northeast of Priest River.
The fire, first reported about 8:30 a.m. Thursday, had grown to about 75 acres by 5 p.m., IDL officials reported on their website. No structures are threatened and no evacuations are in place.
A Type 3 incident management team is expected to take control of the fire Friday morning.
Portions of Big Creek Road have been closed in the vicinity of the fire for firefighter and public safety.
IDL officials said there are approximately 60 firefighters, five engines, a bulldozer, and an excavator on scene helping fight the fire. In addition, multiple helicopters and fire boss aircraft have been used on the fire as well. A fire retardant line has been dropped around the fire and handline is being constructed.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Idaho Department of Lands Fire Management in partnership with two timber protection associations, and with the support of rural volunteer fire departments and other partners, are responsible for fire suppression and prevention on more than 6 million acres of state and private forests and rangelands in Idaho. IDL Fire focuses on initial attack with the goal of keeping fires at 10 acres or less.
Updates to the Prater Red 2 fire can be found on the IDL website, idl.idaho.gov/prater and all IDL fire updates at www.idl.idaho.gov/fire .