Single Publication

Location: 5.5 miles west of Nordman, ID in Pend Oreille County, WA      

Cause: Lightning      

State Date: July 14

Size: 832 acres      

Personnel: 28      
 
Contained/Confined: 44%      
 
Incident Commander: ICT4 Hirst 
 

These updates will be produced twice a week unless significant activities occur.

Overview: Firefighters, with the assistance of masticators and dozers, have completed almost all of the nearly 7 miles of containment lines on the west, south and east sides of the fire. Diamond Creek has created a natural barrier keeping the fire confined on the northern edge. The combined areas that fire officials have deemed confined and contained equals 44% of the fire’s perimeter; these are the edges of the fire that have reached the line and not moved further for days. The fire received considerable amounts of rain over the last few days, which has diminished much of the interior heat and slowed the forward progression. Due to the heavy dead and down fuels within the fire area, smoke will likely continue to be seen from ID Highway 57 near Nordman, ID until an end of the season event occurs. Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority.

Planned Actions: A couple days of work with heavy equipment is left to finalize the containment lines. Fire crews and equipment have cleared away the vegetation that parallels the roads and created shaded fuel breaks along FSR 308. Approximately one mile of hose lays with sprinklers and pumps have been laid along the west and east containment lines where firefighters are patrolling the lines and prepared to take action when needed. Direct action within the fire area would be dangerous for firefighters due to the steep rugged terrain which is covered by dead and down trees in jackstraw piles. 
 

Smoke: Smoke from fires in WA and ID have had impacts to the air quality around Priest Lake. The Air Quality Index has remained "Good" most days, but it has moved into "Moderate" a few times over the last month. For an interactive air quality map and predicted smoke conditions, visit https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Closures & Evacuations: Area and road closures have been issued for Forest Service Roads 311, 308, 1362H and the area in the vicinity of the Diamond Watch Fire. Petit Lake and its associated dispersed campsites are within the area closure. FSR 1362 remains open. This closure is for public safety due to heavy equipment operations and wildfire suppression effects on the Diamond Watch Fire. All methods of travel are prohibited (foot, mechanized, motorized and stock) on the closed roads and area. The Priest Lake area can be accessed from the Colville National Forest through Newport, WA via US Highway 2 north and Priest River, ID via ID Highway 57 north. There are NO evacuations. However, when living in fire prone areas it is recommended that all area residents have an evacuation plan in place including having all important documents, pictures, prescriptions, and pets gathered up and easily transportable.  Residents of Bonner County, ID or Pend Oreille, WA can visit https://www.nixle.com or text home zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts.