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Lightning sparks several North Idaho wildfires |
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July 21, 2017 |
The Idaho Panhandle National Forests had
multiple new fires detected following the
Thursday night lightning storm. Here is an
update on fire activity across the forest:
* The Trestle Peak Fire, on the Sandpoint Ranger District, is located
east of Sandpoint on Trestle Ridge, and is
approximately 40 acres. It is burning in heavy
subalpine fir. Fire behavior has been
predominantly torching and short-range spotting.
Resources include three Type 2 initial attack
crews, 10 smokejumpers, two Forest Service
engines with crews, a contract water tender, and
an additional 15 local firefighters. Retardant
drops and air attack have successfully limited
fire spread despite the wind.
* The Rattle Creek Fire, also located on the Sandpoint Ranger District,
is currently at .7 acres and being staffed by
smokejumpers who are making good progress. The
smokejumpers are expected to fully contain the
fire tonight.
* Four small fires (Taffy Creek, Strawberry Creek, Lightning Creek, and
Wylie) located on the Sandpoint Ranger District
have been successfully controlled.
* The Reeder Mountain Fire located eight miles north of Nordman on the
northeast side of Reeder Mountain, on the Priest
Lake Ranger District, is approximately 8 acres.
The fire is burning on a steep rocky slope. Due
to the steep slopes and terrain, engines are not
able to access the fire. Air resources and
smokejumpers are deployed to the fire, with
additional resources on order.
* The Nickel Fire, also located on the Priest Lake Ranger District, on
the southeast side of Nickel Plate Mountain, was
contained at 1/10 acre fire with the support of
helicopter bucket drops.
* The Muskegon and Muskegon 2 Fires are both located north of Granite
Pass, near Muskegon Lake. Crews are hiking into
and will be on scene tonight.
* The North Fork Hughes Fire is located just north of Hughes Meadows on
the Priest Lake Ranger District, just across the
Washington State line. A lightning storm on June
28 sparked the fire and it smoldered for a few
days before firefighters located it on July 4.
The fire is about 70 acres and is being actively
managed.
* Small fires contained on the Priest Lake Ranger District include the
Little Granite Fire at 1/10 of an acre, Lakeview
Mountain Fire at 1/2 an acre, and the Deerhorn
Fire at 1/10 an acre.
* The Beaver Creek Fire, on the Coeur d’Alene River District, is
contained at 15 acres, and crews are mopping up
the area
Lightning is notorious in this area for causing
“holdover” fires that can appear many days
later. We are doing everything we can to
suppress these fires as quickly, efficiently
and, most importantly, as safely as possible. |
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