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Parker Ridge Fire sweeps past West Side Road and
across the Kootenai Valley, forcing evacuations;
one single structure confirmed burned |
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August 15, 2015 |
The Parker Ridge Fire exploded rapidly from what
had been a sedate, though unrelenting march down
the face of the ridge and toward the wheat
fields, hay fields, timber, and homes of
Boundary County's northern Kootenai Valley. As
winds increasingly gusted, the fire rapidly
spread across the Westside Road, into and across
the broad Kootenai Valley, and within an
amazingly short period had vaulted the Kootenai
River and forced evacuations at Porthill and in
the Farm to Market area near Porthill.
Firefighters, both the federal wildfire
specialist teams and a large contingent of local
Boundary County fire departments, spent a long
night battling the wildfire and into this morning. At
this time, the emergency evacuation notice for
the Porthill and Copeland areas has been lifted,
and residents are being allowed to return home,
according to Mike Meier, Boundary County Public
Information Officer.
At around 6:30 p.m. or so yesterday, the fire
was just reaching the West Side Road. Within an
hour and a half, the fire had taken off as winds
swooped across the area, the fire crossing the
West Side Road, sweeping across the valley, and
soon spot fires were jumping across the Kootenai
River.
At 8:00 p.m. evacuation orders were issued for
Porthill, and the Farm to Market area near
Porthill.
A county-wide call went out for assistance,
requesting firefighters and equipment from any
Boundary County fire departments that could
help. Several fire departments from around the
county responded, generally with multiple
vehicles and many of their firefighting
personnel.
At 10:40 p.m., Mike Meier, Boundary County
Public Information Officer, advised that
Boundary County Commissioners had declared a
state of emergency in the county.
The Red Cross set up a center for evacuees at
Boundary County Middle School, and the County
Commissioners made the Fairgrounds available for
boarding animals and livestock. Several churches
made their buildings and facilities available
for anyone who needed a place to stay. Local
residents dropped off food and supplies to help
provide for those who evacuated and went to
these centers.
NewsBF paid a visit to the area, finding high
velocity winds with frequent gusts sweeping the
Copeland and northern West Side area virtually
nonstop. Firefighters we encountered expressed
concern, that at least one structure on the west
side of the river had been lost, and although
they were very concerned about the danger to
other homes on the west side and along the lower
parts of the Smith Creek Road,
Forest Service
officials confirmed this morning that only one
outbuilding had burned, not a home, and that
there was no other known structural damage as of
this morning.
Firefighters indicated that at that particular
time last night, it appeared that no structures
were threatened on the east side of the river.
There were, however, many spot fires on the east
side of the Kootenai that required attention.
In the meantime, evacuations occurred in another
North Idaho area. The Lawyer Complex fire,last
reported at 13,000 acres in the Orofino and
Kamiah area, also took off out of control
yesterday, and led to evacuations in the Kamiah,
Kooskia, and Orofino areas. Initial reports, yet
to be confirmed, indicate structures have been
lost to this fire, and that stretches of the
wildfire had reached and were burning within the
city limits of Orofino.
NewsBF will continue to provide information as
it becomes available. We have photographs of the
fire that we will be posting later today.
More official information from official sources
is expected soon.
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