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As of 5 pm PDT, on September 2, 2022, the Eneas Peak, Katka, Russell Mountain, Scotch Creek, and Trout Fires were officially grouped into the Kootenai River Complex.
The Eneas Peak Fire, confirmed on August 13th, was started by lightning and is visible from the Kootenai River Valley and most of the Bonners Ferry area. The fire is located approximately 15 miles north-northwest of Bonners Ferry, on the south aspect below Eneas Peak and above Fisher Creek. The terrain is steep and inaccessible (60%-80% slopes), with numerous dead and downed trees. These conditions prevent the use of firefighter direct attack tactics where fireline is built directly next to the fire. Fire managers assessed the area by air and ground for potential confinement lines.
In the afternoon of August 21, 2022, the Trout Fire was detected during district fire patrol. The Trout Fire is located within the Selkirk Mountain Range on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. It is approximately 10 miles southwest of Copeland Idaho near Trout Creek and it was determined to be caused by lightning. Due to the fire being situated in an old burn scar, snags and heavy downed-fuels is the chief safety concern for firefighters working on the ground. .
The Russell Mountain Fire was reported early afternoon on August 24, 2022. It is located within the Selkirk Mountain Range on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. It is approximately 10 miles southwest of Copeland Idaho, near the Ball Creek drainage and burning on a southern aspect. There are currently no values at risk and its current strategy management is confine and contain.
The Scotch Fire was confirmed September 1, 2022. It is located in the Selkirk Mountain Range on the Bonner's Ferry District in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The fire is roughly 10 miles northwest of downtown Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
The Katka Fire was confirmed on September 1, 2022. It is located within the Cabinet Mountain Range on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. It is approximately 5 miles west from the Idaho/Montana border and 8 miles southeast of Bonner's Ferry burning in steep areas 1/2 mile from Katka Peak.
Residents of Boundary County, ID, can visit https://www.nixle.com, text their home zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts, or call the Boundary County Emergency Line available at 208-696-2626.
| Current as of | Tue, 12/13/2022 - 15:41 |
|---|---|
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | 7 miles NW of Bonners Ferry, ID |
| Incident Commander | Bonners Ferry Ranger District Type 4, Ed Ohweiler |
| Incident Description | Complex |
| Coordinates |
48° 47' 0'' Latitude
-116° 28' 0
'' Longitude
|
| Total Personnel: | 19 |
|---|---|
| Size | 25,401 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 0% |
| Estimated Containment Date | 2022-11-01 00:00:00 |
| Fuels Involved | Timber fuels with a mix of sup-alpine fire, lodgepole, larch, and cedar. Mixed shrub understory with huckleberry. Heavy dead and down combined with standing dead trees and steep topography pose a hazard to firefighters. |
| Significant Events | Minimal fire activity, with some flanking, backing, creeping. |
| Planned Actions |
Continued Point Protection Strategy, repair hand and mechanical freelines along Westside Road. Remove existing hose lays where appropriate. Continue to update the trapline and communicate to the residence as structure protection is removed. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Mostly cloudy. A chance of valley rain and freezing valley rain in the evening. A chance of mountain snow through the night. 24 hours: Mostly cloudy. Valley rain and mountain snow. 48 hours: Mountain Snow. Lows 29 to 37, Highs 40 to 47 valleys 32 to 41 mountains. Southwest wind 5 to 15mph 72 hours: Mostly cloudy with valley rain and mountain snow likely. Lows 28 to 37. Highs 39 to 45 valleys... 32 to 39 mountains. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph Anticipated after 72 hours: Snow and light freezing valley rain. Lows 27 to 36. Highs 40 to 47 valleys... 32 to 41 mountains. South wind 5 to 10 mph. |
| Remarks |
Block - 7 All fire costs within the Kootenai River Complex have been combined and represented by Russell Mountain fire. 9/08/2022 Scotch Creek merged with Russell Mountain. Scotch Creek acres frozen at 2844 and added to Russell Mtn. 9/10/2022 Eneas Peak merged with Trout. Eneas Peak acres frozen at 2298 and added to Trout. 9/11/2022 Trout merged with Russell Mountain. Trout acres frozen at 4785 and added to Russell Mtn. |
| Weather Concerns | Widespread wetting precipitation is expected over most of the area. The system will also deliver breezy west winds by late Monday morning into the afternoon. This system will exit the area Tuesday morning but several more are expected through the week resulting prolonged wet and cool period weather. |
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