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Please report wildfires and do your part to prevent new starts.
Here is an update on fire activity across the forest:
Bonners Ferry Ranger District
• The East Fork of Meadows Fire (1/10 acre) is suspected to be human-caused and is currently under investigation. The fire was reported and put out on 7/27/17.
Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District
• The Badger Fire (1/10 acre) was reported on 7/25/17 and controlled the next day. It was located on Badger Mountain near Hudlow Saddle and was human-caused.
• The Petty Fire (1/10 acre) was reported on 7/25/17 and put out the same day. It was located in the Teddy Flat dispersed camp area on the North Fork of the Coeur d Alene River and was human-caused.
• The Hudlow Fire (1/10 acre) and the Skitwish Fire (1/4 acre) were controlled on 7/24/17. Both were human-caused.
Sandpoint Ranger District
• The Trestle Peak Fire (15 acres) is now 100% contained. The only closure still in place for the area of the Trestle Peak Fire is for Trails 55 & 526.
Priest Lake Ranger District
• The Happy 302 Fire (2/10 acre) was reported on 7/25/17, put out on 7/27/17, and was started by lightning.
• The Huff Fire (1 acre) was reported on 7/22/17. The cause of the fire was lightning and crews expect to have it contained today, 7/28/17.
• The 311 Fire (6/10 acre) is located near Athol Cr & Granite Cr. It was reported on 7/22/17 and is currently staffed with an engine as well as a 20-person crew. It was controlled on 7/26/27. This fire was human-caused and is under investigation.
• The Reeder Mountain Fire (4 acres) is located eight miles north of Nordman on the northeast side of Reeder Mountain and is burning on a steep rocky slope. Due to the steep slopes and terrain, engines are not able to access the fire. The crew assigned to this fire expects to have it controlled on 7/28/17.
• The North Fork Hughes Fire (136 acres) is located just north of Hughes Meadows in the Salmo Priest Wilderness on the Idaho/Washington State line. A lightning storm on June 28 sparked the fire and it smoldered for a few days before firefighters located it on 7/4/17. A Fire Use Module of 8 wildland fire specialists are gathering data and assisting with tactics feasibility and planning.
Summary
The 14 day weather outlook shows above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation.
The fire danger across the Idaho Panhandle is Very High and people are advised to be cautious with fire. Six of the last seven wildfire starts on the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District have been human caused.
If recreating outdoors, make sure your campfires are completely extinguished and cool to the touch before leaving. Stay on designated routes and dispose of cigarettes responsibly.
Human caused starts, particularly in the Wildland-Urban Interface, pose a threat to the public as well as requiring valuable firefighting resources that may be needed elsewhere.
We are doing everything we can to suppress these fires as quickly, efficiently, and most importantly, as safely as possible. We will keep you posted as conditions change.
For additional information or updates on fire activity on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, please contact Kary Maddox, Public Information Officer, at (208) 557-8813.