State’S Fire Emergency Status Extended Weather Conditions May Extend Wildfires Well Into September
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne signed a proclamation extending Idaho’s state of emergency for another month as weather conditions were forecast to prolong wildfires well into September.
Kempthorne met with state disaster officials on Sunday before signing the document.
“The reports from the fire lines, as well as the weather reports, tell us that we have at least several more weeks of work before we can hope to get the upper hand on most of these fires,” Kempthorne said.
More than 709,000 forest and range land acres were on fire Sunday as 23 fires burned throughout Idaho. In Western Montana, a fast-moving wildfire erupted near Red Lodge Sunday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of 100-150 homes and closing the Beartooth Highway. Officials said the fire was moving to the northeast toward the resort community but it wasn’t immediately threatened.
The highway is the route between Red Lodge and the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park. Twenty-three Montana fires, covering 670,000 acres, are being battled by nearly 11,000 firefighters.
Idaho Panhandle counties are not included in Kempthorne’s emergency declaration, but small wildfires continue to rage in Bonner and Benewah counties.
Three new lightning fires started over the weekend in North Idaho, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
The first, called Rattle Mine 1, is about two miles east of Rattle Creek Road and Lightning Creek Road in the Sandpoint Ranger District. It was estimated to be less than a quarter acre and spreading slowly.
The second, called Trout Peak, was discovered early Saturday near Trout Peak, several miles northeast of Lake Pend Oreille. It was also less than an acre Sunday morning.
The third fire is Big Buck 2. It’s near Baldy Mountain, and was visible from U.S. Highway 95, south of Sandpoint.
Because of fire danger, the Trestle Creek and Lightning Creek roads are now closed near Lunch Peak and the East Fork Road.
In north-central Idaho, the governor’s action allows state resources to remain available to help both federal and local agencies fighting Idaho’s wildfires. It also came as strong, gusty winds fueled blazes throughout the state.
The Clear Creek fire - once the nation’s largest - grew to more than 180,000 acres in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Six weeks of smoke and ash have threatened health and frayed nerves in nearby Salmon, which has become a city under siege.
Smoky air and the fire-induced closure of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River have driven tourists away. And in a town that has turned almost entirely from logging and mining to recreation, businesses that have survived for generations are facing the fight of their lives.
“Normally, we sell a lot of souvenirs, river T-shirts and sandals, but the tourists are all gone now,” said Jeanne Hurst, a clerk at the 97-year-old McPherson’s Family Clothing Store. “I hope we can make it through this, but I wouldn’t be sur- prised if we didn’t.”
Silver Spur Sport Shop owner Jack Cook agreed.
“Our business is off a third, and if it wasn’t for firefighters buying tools and clothes, it would be a lot worse,” he said. “If we don’t get rain, it will close our hunting season and if we don’t get more water in the river, it could hurt our steelhead season.
That could kill this town.”
Fifty miles northwest of Challis, a 116,900-acre complex of 11 wildfires burned toward the east. Officials were mostly concerned about the Little Pistol fire, which crossed the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.
The Clearwater and Nez Perce national forests reported little change over the weekend. Crews continued structure protection as lightning caused small, new fires. And they were able to bring the 19,000-acre Burnt Flats fire to 50 percent containment.
The Three Bears fire continued its spread in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. The Flossie fire burned into the Three Bears fire late last week, bringing the total acreage to about 81,500. Activity on the Three Bears fire was minimal on Sunday.
Farther south, in the Payette National Forest, fire crews bid farewell to the 3rd Battalion 16th Field Artillery from Fort Hood, Texas. During a military ceremony on Saturday, U.S. Forest Service officials and fire bosses gave a resounding “thank you” to the 600 soldiers for their efforts in battling the Burgdorf Junction fire.
The troops headed back to Fort Hood on Sunday. The wildfire, which neared 60,000 acres, continued burning north of McCall.
“You have done an outstanding job cutting - and more importantly holding - miles of fire lines,” said Payette National Forest Supervisor Dave Alexander. “Your job was to prevent loss of lives and property, and that’s what you’ve done. And you did it with a great attitude.”
The military men and women spent the past 30 days helping firefighters get the blaze more than 60 percent contained. Fire bosses gave them a number of awards, including commemorative coins, plaques and an open invitation to visit Idaho.
Closer to Boise, burn-out operations on the Trail Creek fire proved effective as crews made progress toward containment. The blaze, which had threatened the isolated community of Atlanta, reached 29,642 acres. Fire bosses said they are concerned about fatigue among firefighters, especially those camped out on the fire line. No serious injuries have been reported.
Atlanta residents and fire crews have sighted bears around the city dump and near some homes. The animals have been forced out of their habitat by the fires and ongoing drought.