Wildfire season could last into October, officials warn

Weekend showers helped crews make progress on wildfires burning across the region, but officials cautioned today that fire season could stretch into October. “In order to get a season ending event, we’d need two inches of rain in a 24-hour period, and continued precipitation,” said Shoshana Cooper, acting public affairs officer for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. “I was on a fire Sunday that was making runs through the rain,” added Franklin Pemberton, a spokesman for the Colville National Forest. “We’ll likely see fire activity until the snow flies.” About one-tenth of an inch of rain fell on the Colville forest over the weekend, but not all areas received precipitation, he said. Fire closures remain in effect for large parts of both national forests, though the Idaho Panhandle National Forests will be reviewing fuel conditions and the weather outlook this afternoon. Hunters have been contacting both forests about getting into their favorite areas. “The challenge for folks is to be patient this year,” Pemberton said. The forests remain the driest they’ve been in decades. A little sun and a little wind will take the forests back to pre-rain conditions, he said.