Kootenai River Complex grows to 12K acres

SANDPOINT — Air support is continuing efforts to try and slow the spread of the Kootenai River Complex.

The complex, composed of about a half-dozen fires in northern Boundary County, has burned an estimated 12,487 acres. An overnight mapping flight found the fires grew by an estimated 1,707 acres, Forest Service officials said.

Water bucket drops were conducted Tuesday to slow the fire's spread along the eastern edges of the Russell Mountain and Scotch fires. In addition, officials said heavy equipment is being used to prepare old forest roads west of Westside Road as firelines.

"On the Katka Fire, crews scouted the fire area on the ground and by helicopter to assess the high risks to firefighter safety," officials said in a press release. "Due to steep terrain, dead or fire weakened trees that could fall at any time, and a long hike into the fire area, it was determined that an indirect fire suppression strategy needs to be developed."

As a result, Forest Service officials said crews are looking to use existing road systems of part of a plan to create indirect firelines. The strategy will help ensure firefighter safety due to the area's remote location, amount of dead trees and steep terrain.

Crews are assessing structure and protection efforts on private property along Westside Road.

While there are no evacuations in place, some residents on Westside Road have been placed at "set" status due to their proximity to the Scott and Russell Mountain fires. Other residents near the Eneas Peak and Katka fires have been placed at ready status under the Ready-Set-Go evacuation procedure.

Under ready, residents are advised to have a plan to evacuate if necessary, while set status asks residents to begin putting their plan into place. Under go status, residents are told to leave immediately due to an imminent threat.

The fire is being overseen by Type 2 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 4 led by Rick Connell. The complex, which is being fought by 168 fire crews, is zero percent contained.

Diamond Watch Fire

The fire, which is located 5.5 miles due west of Nordman, Idaho, is being managed with a contain/confine strategy due to the area's rugged, steep and dangerous terrain, Forest Service officials said.

The fire has burned 893 acres and is 44% contained. It was sparked by a lightning strike in mid-July.

Thor Fire

Located on the Colville National Forest, the lightning-caused Thor Fire has burned roughly 800 acres since it was discovered in mid-August.

Due to the steep and rugged terrain as well as large amounts of dead trees and "timber litter" — leaves, needles, and twigs on the forest floor — officials said that a direct attack on the fire would be unsafe.

There are two smaller fires in the area that the Northeast Interagency Incident Management Team Type 3 Team 2 will manage and take action as needed. The fires have very limited access and are planned for aerial reconnaissance.

"The focus of the team over the next few days is to patrol containment lines on Thor that were put in place over the last 3 weeks," officials said.

The nearby Slate Fire, which has burned roughly 100 acres, officials said there is minimal threat to recreation areas, infrastructure and private property.

Boulder Mountain Fire

Detected on Aug. 31, the Boulder Mountain Fire is located nine miles northwest of Cusick, Wash. The cause of the fire, which has burned an estimated 1,210 acres is under investigation. The fire is being fought by Great Basin Type 2 Management Team No. 7 with 191 fire personnel assigned to it. A mix of state, federal and private lands are impacted.

Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District

USFS crews are managing the Columbus Fire and the Bear Gulch Fire with an indirect suppression strategy.

The Columbus Fire, approximately 6 miles northeast of Murray, has been estimated at 300 acres. A few miles to the south is the Bear Gulch Fire, which has burned an estimated 60 acres.

St. Joe Ranger District

The largest fire on the district is the Blackburn Fire at 225 acres. Discovered in mid-August, the fire is located just north of the Heller Creek Campground near the headwaters of the St. Joe River.

Sparked by lightning, the fire is listed at 3% containment.

Closure, evacuations and information

• On the Kootenai River Complex, residents are asked to avoid Trout Creek Road (Forest Service Road 634) as well as nearby trails to allow for fire suppression efforts in the vicinity. Trails included are Fisher Peak (No. 27), Pyramid Lake (No. 13), Pyramid Peak (No. 7), Trout Lake (No. 41) and Ball and Pyramid Lakes Trail (No 43).

While there are no evacuations in place, those living on West Side Road closest to Ball, Burton and Clark creeks have been upgraded to "set" status under the Ready-Set-Go evacuation procedure.

Under ready, residents are advised to have a plan to evacuate if necessary, while set status asks residents to begin putting their plan into place. Under go status, residents are told to leave immediately due to an imminent threat.

• On the Diamond Watch Fire, closure orders are in effect for Forest Service roads 311, 308, and 1362H in the vicinity of the fire. However, FSR 1362 remains open. Petit Lake and is associated campsites are within the closure area.

Some camping areas along the southwest portion of Sullivan Creek Road have been notified that they are on a “set” be ready evacuation status and should be ready to leave if asked by local authorities.

• On the Thor Fire, roads connecting to the Idaho Panhandle National Forest are closed starting at the junction of FSR 302 and FSR 1013.

• On the Coeur d'Alene Ranger District, closures include Trail 148 along Casper Creek, Trail 7 from the intersection with Trail 774 to Thompson Pass, Trail 1107 near the state line, Trail 763 near the state line, Forest Service Road 938, FSR 430 and FSR 604CZ.

• All methods of travel are prohibited (foot, mechanized, motorized and stock) on the closed roads and area.

• A temporary flight restriction is in place on the Katka Fire as well as on Scotch Creek, Russell Mountain, Eneas Peak and Trout fires. As a reminder, civilian drones are not allowed around active fires. Flying drones near an emergency scene is against the law and forces fire crews to ground their flights.

• A fire watch is in effect Tuesday through Wednesday evenings, with dry and unstable weather conditions predicted. In addition, gusty winds and dry conditions are predicted for Wednesday.

• Current evacuation status information in Boundary County is available in a recorded message on the Boundary County Emergency Information Line at 208-696-BOCO (2626)

Information: InciWeb.nwcg.gov