Kootenai River Complex continues to grow
Firefighters prepping near structures Westside Road. A total of 261 firefighters have been assigned to the Kootenai River Complex, which has burned more than 15,000 acres in northern Boundary County.
(Photo courtesy D. HARMS/ U.S. FOREST SERVICE)
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An active Katka Fire, part of the Kootenai River Complex in Boundary County, helped pushed the total area by fires in the complex burned to 15,640 acres, Forest Service officials said.
An overnight mapping flight found the fire grew by 76 acres with the total complex growing by 1,950 acres.
The fire's growth was spurred by a heavy concentration of dead and downed trees in the steep terrain where the fire is located. However, the fire is not directly threatening private property and crews are actively scouting areas around the fire for roads as well as locations to build indirect firelines.
The eastern sides of the Scotch Creek, Russell Mountain, and Trout fires grew slightly Wednesday, producing visible columns of smoke but the eastern sides of the fires were sheltered from prevailing winds, which limited the fires' growth.
Structure protection and water delivery systems east of the Eneas Peak Fire are complete and being tested and improved. In addition, officials said a fireline west of Westside Road and a connected handline around the Fisher and Trout Creek areas are being completed.
Fire crews, now totally 261 people are also working to remove vegetation and install hose line east of the Scotch Creek, Russell Mountain, Trout and Eneas Fires.
Two helicopters are assigned to the complex and two additional helicopters are on loan to the fires.
"Helicopters will deliver buckets of water on the fires when wind and smoke conditions allow," Forest Service officials said. "Firefighters are contacting private landowners near the Katka Fire and developing a strategy that enables firefighters to safely engage the fire through indirect fireline locations."
Diamond Watch Fire
Containment of the Diamond Watch Fire, located 5.5 miles due west of Nordman, has increased to 49%. Due to the area's rugged, steep and dangerous terrain, Forest Service officials said the fire is being fought using a contained/confined strategy.
"A combination of natural barriers and constructed fireline is being utilized to stop the fires spread beyond the defined areas," officials said. "Diamond Creek continues to act as a natural barrier keeping the fire confined on the northern edge."
Containment lines have been completed on the west, east and southern edges of the fire and Diamond Creek is acting as a natural barrier on the fire's northern edge.
The fire has burned a total of 957 acres since it was sparked by a lightning strike in mid-July.
Priest Lake Ranger District engine crews are helping assigned firefighters patrol the almost 7 miles of containment lines.
Columbus and Bear Gulch Fires
Sparked by lightning in late August, the Columbus Fire on the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District has now burned an estimated 1,000 acres. Six miles northwest of Murray, the fire is being managed under a "confine and contain strategy" due to its steep and rugged terrain, Forest Service officials said.
The nearby Bear Gulch Fire has burned an estimated 144 acres. Also caused by lightning, the fire is located 6 miles east of Murray. The fire, which is about a mile away from the Idaho/Montana, is burning in terrain very similar to the Columbus Fire with "abundant snag hazards and access challenges," officials said.
Crews are working to gain safe access to the fire and like the Columbus Fire, the strategy is "monitor, confine, and contain," they said.
Boulder Mountain Fire
Detected on Aug. 31, the Boulder Mountain Fire is located nine miles northwest of Cusick, Wash. The fire, which has burned an estimated 1,328 acres, is now listed at 6% containment. The fire is being fought by Great Basin Type 2 Management Team No. 7 with 458 fire personnel assigned to it. A mix of state, federal and private lands are impacted.
Thor Fire
The Thor Fire grew slightly overnight, now estimated at 1,189 acres. The fire is located about 5 miles east of Sullivan Lake in heavy timber and steep terrain.
The nearby Slate Fire, which has burned roughly 100 acres, officials said there is minimal threat to recreation areas, infrastructure and private property.