Eneas Peak Fire grows to 150 acres

The Eneas Peak Fire has grown to 150 acres, U.S. Forest Service officials said Thursday.

The fire, located 15 miles north-northwest of Bonners Ferry was reported Aug. 13 as part of a thunderstorm system which hit the region. The fire is burning on a south aspect below Eneas Peak and above Fisher Creek.

Burning in heavy timber, U.S. Forest Service officials said smoke is visible from the Kootenai River Valley and most of Bonners Ferry.

Fire managers are scouting the area by both air and ground to identify potential confinement lines and open areas where the use of retardant might be an effective strategy to slow the fire’s spread, Kary Maddow, U.S. Forest Service public information officer, said.

However, difficult terrain with steep slopes of between 60% and 80% makes the fire challenging for fire crew, Maddow said.

"The unroaded nature of this terrain and numerous dead and downed trees make direct suppression tactics with ground resources dangerous or unachievable," she added.

Forest Service officials said the fire is experiencing low nighttime humidity recovery and may be active during the day and night. Smoke produced by heavy downed timber can be misleading of actual fire size and may appear larger from a distance. Fire growth is occurring as the main fire moves uphill and as burnt material rolls downslope and ignites unburned fuels below.

Meanwhile on the Diamond Watch Fire in nearby Pend Oreille County, Wash., fire crews continue their efforts to hold and contain the fire. Mapped at 391 acres during a recent infrared flight, the fire was caused by a lightning strike on July 14.

U.S. Forest Service officials the fire, which is burning on a ridge to the east of Diamond Peak about 5.5 miles due west of Nordman, can be seen from the Priest Lake area in Idaho. Containment of the fire is listed at 0 percent.

Due to the terrain, U.S. Forest Service officials said direct suppression of the fire is neither a safe nor effective option.

Closures and evacuations:

There are no closures or evacuations currently in place in connection to the fire. However, when living in fire prone areas it is recommended that all area residents have an evacuation plan in place including having all important documents, pictures, prescriptions, and pets gathered up and easily transportable.

Residents of Boundary County can visit nixle.com or text home zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts.