Rain Washes Some Idaho Fire Limits Away Wet Weather Means Some Campfires Allowed

Sun., Sept. 3, 2000

By Julie Titone juliet@spokesman.com

Fire restrictions were eased throughout Idaho on Saturday, thanks to rain and cooler weather.

Both public and private lands are affected.

The U.S. Forest Service and the Idaho Department of Lands decided to allow the following: Campfires in designated campsites with concrete or metal fire rings; Use of off-road vehicles off designated roads and trails until 1 p.m.; Use of black powder muzzle-loaders; Smoking inside vehicles or cleared areas; Open burning, if a permit is obtained from the local wildland fire jurisdiction.

Hoot owl restrictions remain in effect, limiting loggers’ working hours to 1 a.m to 1 p.m.

In the Idaho Panhandle, most fires have been contained or extinguished. An exception is the East Thunder No. 14 fire, which covered an estimated 563 acres Saturday. It is 23 miles east of Sandpoint. The area is considered extremely hazardous because of its steep and rocky terrain. Firefighters were unable to estimate when the fire would be contained.

Crews are using the popular Trestle Creek Road east of Sandpoint to access the Nosebag fire, where mop-up operations are under way. Fire officials asked that drivers there proceed slowly.

Two roads and six trails east of Lighting Creek Road remain closed in the Sandpoint Ranger District, due to concern for pubic safety as a result of fires. The closures affect forest roads 1030 (Char Creek Road) and 1184 (East Fork Road); plus the Savage, Savage Creek, Rattle Ridge, Thunder Creek, Mud Creek and East Fork Peak trails.

In the Avery Ranger District, Trail No. 11 has been closed from Road 201 near Surveyor’s Peak through Collins Peak to Mallard Lake. The Collins Creek fire in the Clearwater National Forest is active in that area.

Current fire information is available by phone at 208-666-8676 in Coeur d’Alene, or via the Internet at www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/eco/fire.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.