Single Publication

Updates on the Kootenai River Complex will be provided with less frequency or as operations change.

Estimated Size: 24,311 acres                                     Completion: 87%                                                                                                                                     Personnel: 54

Highlights: Boundary County officials, in close coordination with fire managers, have lifted the READY fire pre-evacuation status for all residents of Westside Road. Current and anticipated fire behavior has lessened significantly. Fire will continue to burn toward established control lines and will be monitored by firefighters on the ground. Helicopters may be used to slow fire spread when necessary. A weather shift is expected in the coming week, bringing cooler temperatures and precipitation. 

The Forest Service closure orders around the Complex include off-trail and off-road land in addition to specified roads and trails. Please avoid all areas within the closures for your safety due to active fire and other associated hazards. 

Last week, a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team began assessing the main Complex burned area to determine post-fire recovery needs. The BAER team looks at water and soil impacts, erosion potential, vegetation issues, archaeology, and more, to decide what needs to be done to help the forests recover. Reports will be available soon.

Operations: This week, crews will continue to monitor and check fire spread when necessary. Where the fire threat has passed, crews will begin removing additional pumps, hoses, sprinklers, and water tanks around properties on Westside Road. Firefighters will communicate with property owners as this occurs. With rain and potentially snow in the forecast, it is more efficient to remove the hose now than when it gets muddy or becomes covered in snow. The control lines are holding where the fire has slowly backed down to it. Fire management actions are reflective of the current conditions and continued reduction in fire behavior.

Rehabilitation work continues on some equipment lines, including reseeding, installing water bars for erosion control, and using an excavator to pull the lines back in places. Crews are working with homeowners for those that want to leave the line in place on their property. 

The Long Canyon and Katka fires continue to burn with low to moderate intensity. Both fires remain unstaffed, and firefighters continue to monitor them from the air and lookout points.

Weather: Strong high pressure will lead to very warm and dry conditions for this time of year, along with light terrain-driven winds through Wednesday. This includes poor humidity recovery at night for mid-slopes and ridgetops. A significant pattern change is expected to begin on Friday and persist into the weekend with rain, mountain snow, and breezy winds. Snow levels fall to 4000-5000 feet Saturday and 2500-3500 feet Sunday.

Closures: The following National Forest Trails and Roads are closed: Ball Creek Road (FR 432), Trout Creek Road (FR 634), Cascade Creek Road (FS 2411), Russell Mountain Trail (No. 12), Russell Ridge Trail (No. 92), Ball and Pyramid Lakes Trail (No. 43), Pyramid Pass Trail (No. 13), Pyramid Peak Trail (No. 7), Fisher Peak Trail (No. 27), Trout Lake Trail (No. 41), Myrtle Peak Trail (No. 286), Burton Peak Trail (No. 9), Parker Ridge Trail (No. 221) and Long Canyon Trail (No. 16).

Evacuations: There are NO evacuations currently in place and all pre-evacuation status’ have been removed. To learn more about READY SET GO, visit https://bit.ly/3wi0jMu.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR): There is a TFR in place for air space over the Russell Mountain Fire (2-5373) for aviation safety. Remember that temporary flight restrictions apply to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones. If you fly, we can't!