Crews make strides on fire

CLARK FORK — Fire crews are making strides to contain the Bee Top Fire located 5 miles northeast of town.

Crews continue to build an indirect fireline adjacent to the Lightning Creek river bottom and to the ridge to the southwestern portion of the fire. In addition, the Boise Interagency Hot Shot Crew removed hazard tree and built an indirect fireline to a ridge southwest of the fire, moving from the river bottom to a temporary camp midway up the slope.

Two crews have been inserted at the camp, with one making significant progress on the indirect fireline up the slope, Idaho Panhandle National Forest officials said in a press release.

Firefighters are constructing fireline along the valley floor adjacent to the creek, working northeast. Crews were expected to spend Saturday continuing efforts to build the fireline from the Lightning Creek river bottom to the upper portion of Bee Top Mountain.

The goal is for the crews to meet up, increasing resources on tying the lower portion of the line to the mid-ridge camp. In addition, crews will continue to build the line from the camp toward the mountain top.

IPNF officials said aerial resources will provide bucket drops throughout the day, cooling the fire to allow crews to build the fireline. Additionally, helicopters will support crews working out of the mid-ridge camp and backhaul garbage to mitigate the threat of bear interactions.

A meeting on the fire was held Saturday to update the community on the fire and firefighting efforts.

The fire is located 5 miles up Lightning Creek Road on Bee Top Mountain and has burned 33 acres and is listed at 16% contained. A total of 127 fire personnel are assigned to the fire, located on the Sandpoint Ranger District. There are four hotshot crews assigned to the lightning-sparked wildfire.

Consalus Fire

Reported on June 30, the Consalus Fire on the Priest Lake Ranger District has burned an estimated 140 acres. There are 91 personnel assigned to the lightning-caused fire, which was reported on June 30.

Located in Pend Oreille County, Wash., the fire is about 10 miles west of Coolin. It is burning in heavy dead and down timber. The fire is 0% contained.

A 10-person district team, three 20-person crews, a Type 1 helicopter, a dozer, and an excavator are engaged in direct suppression efforts, according to IPNF data.

Horse Ridge Fire

More than 50 firefighters are battling a 5-acre forest fire east of Hayden Lake on Thursday.

The Horse Ridge Fire near Mokins Bay was reported about 3 p.m. Wednesday. It is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike a couple of weeks ago that smoldered before it ignited into a large fire.

Late on Thursday, crews had completed firelines around 85% of the fire.

Hill Creek Fire

The Hill Creek Fire, located near Bumblebee Peak, above the Little North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River, was contained on July 3 at 0.4 acres by firefighters from the district, Idaho Department of Lands, and Panhandle Helitack.

Road and trail closures

• Bee Top Fire — None

• Consalus Fire — None

• Horse Ridge Fire — none

• Hill Creek Fire — None

Information: inciweb.nwcg.gov