wildfire, environment, colville national forest

Fierce winds Thursday afternoon forced firefighters to retreat from the South Pend D’oreille fire, which is burning in remote, steep terrain along the Canadian border in Washington’s northeast corner.

“They had to pull everybody off the line today,” said Debbie Wilkins, with the Colville National Forest, adding later, “This one has potential to be a problem, for sure.”

The fire has burned at least 640 acres in British Columbia and an unknown amount of forest in Washington’s Jubalee Creek basin. It is not threatening homes.

Nearly 90 firefighters from the U.S. and 125 from B.C. have been trying to control the fire, which is 40 percent contained. The fire is believed to have been caused by lightning.