Fight continues on area fires

CLARK FORK — Aircraft are assisting Buckskin 2 Fire crews as they work to get a handle on the wildfire located about eight miles south of the city.

An infrared flight of the fire places the size of the fire at roughly 264 acres, Idaho Panhandle National Forests officials said Monday.

Located near the upper end of Twin Creek and Buckskin Saddle, south of Highway 200, the Buckskin 2 is seeing moderate fire behavior with some group tree torching and backing. Aircraft are assisting ground resources with water drops as needed, Idaho Panhandle National Forests officials said Monday.

"Crews and dozers are reinforcing the direct fire line along the spot fire in the northwest corner as well as building direct line on the western flank," officials said in a daily update on the fire.

Firefighters will continue to work on existing firelines along the remaining perimeter of the fire while falling hazardous trees, officials said.

"Additional firefighters have arrived to assist with suppression efforts as the fire is burning in challenging, steep terrain with large amounts of standing dead and down trees from root rot and beetle kill," they added.

Containment on the Buckskin 2 fire is at 15%, IPNF officials said Saturday. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

With hot weather on the horizon, fire activity and smoke production from interior pockets of unburned fuels are expected through the week.

There are 140 personnel assigned to the fire, which is being managed by a Type 3 team from INPF’s Sandpoint Ranger District. There are seven engines, four hand crews, three firefighter units, and three dozers assigned to the fire.

Crews are working to build out a structure assessment plan for the residents of the Twin Creek and Rearden Road areas. The fire is roughly 1.8 miles from the nearest home.

Residents of the Twin Creek and Rearden areas are under the "Get Ready" status of the "Ready, Set, Go" evacuation planning stages. Under this status, residents are advised to have a plan to evacuate if necessary. "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.

Ridge Creek Fire

Fire crews and heavy equipment operators have made substantial progress in building and reinforcing containment lines on the Ridge Creek Fire, officials said Monday.

Burning on the northern tip of Hayden Lake, the Ridge Creek Fire has burned an estimated 2,553 acres and is 13% contained as of Monday morning. The fire, which was human-caused, remains under investigation.

Hand and dozer crews will continue to work on the south end of the fire along Hayden Creek Road, east through Hell’s Canyon to Lakes Divide Road, and north up to Hudlow Saddle, officials said.

On the fire’s northeast side, crews will continue to improve the fire line using Hayden Lake Divide in order to protect homes and structures near Cedar Saddle. From there, the fire line will extend south along North Fork Road to Hayden Creek Road to contain the fire’s west flank.

In addition, crews are looking for areas to extend the fireline to the east between FSR 406 and South Chilco Mountain. Additional containment lines are also being constructed using Buckles Mountain Road and along Ridge Creek to Hayden Creek Road.

Level 1 "Get Ready" evacuation notices are in place for residents in the vicinity of Bunco Road and Hayden Lake.

A total of 376 personnel were assigned to the fire Monday, along with 14 engines and six pieces of heavy equipment.

Bee Top Fire

Fire activity on the Bee Top Fire is minimal and containment is at 80%. The fire is located 5 miles northeast of Clark Fork in the Lightning Creek drainage.

The fire, which has burned an estimated 45 acres, was sparked by lightning July 1. There are eight personnel assigned to the fire, which is being monitored to ensure it stays within containment lines.

Consalus Fire

Containment of the Consalus Fire, which has burned an estimated 475 acres, is at 80%. Crews are monitoring the fire and working to address hazard trees and increase an indirect fireline.

The Consalus Fire, located 10 miles west of Coolin, Idaho, in Pend Oreille County, Wash., was reported June 30. There are 43 fire personnel assigned to the fire.

Road and trail closures

Bee Top Fire: No closures.

Consalus Fire: Forest Service Road 1108 is closed from the junction with FSR 333 to the junction with FSR 659. FSR 1094 will remain open for the first 4.5 miles from the junction with FSR 312, however, the remainder will be closed to the junction with FSR 1108. FSR 659 is closed from the junction with FSR 312 to the junction with FSR 659B; and FSR 333 from the junction with FSR 2730 to its end.

There is a temporary flight restriction over the fire area. Flying civilian drones is prohibited and could ground firefighting crews.

Buckskin 2 Fire — The intersection of USFS roads 203 and 332 as well as the intersection of 1021 and 332 and also 1533 and 306 in Clark Fork are closed. UTV Trail 77 goes right into the drainage where the fire is burning and is also being closed.

There is a temporary flight restriction over the fire area.

Ridge Creek Fire: There is a 24-hour-per-day temporary flight restriction in place, which applies to both civilian aircraft and drones.

An emergency closure order is in effect for areas surrounding the fire and prohibits all methods of travel (foot, mechanized, motorized, and stock) on Forest Service Roads 392, 428A, 437, 1511, 1530, 1552, 1587, and Forest Service Roads 206 and 406 north of their junction, Forest Service Trails 69, 78, 234, and 802, as well as within the described area.

Information: inciweb.nwcg.gov