Cheney, WA – Crews worked on the line today to cool hot spots that were identified overnight with handheld infrared technology. This is a piece of technology that provides an extra set of “eyes” to help make sure the fire is totally out and there are no hot spots within the mop up area. Firefighters continued mopping up 200 feet in from the perimeter, 500 feet from structures as well as making repairs to areas affected by suppression activities. In the initial attack of a fire the crews may have to cut fence or drive into areas we wouldn’t normally drive into. It is the goal of the team to return those areas to the way they were before the fire began. The fire is now 80% contained.  Some firefighters have begun the process of demobilization, this process with continue through tomorrow.

Tonight will be the last night shift that firefighters will be on the fire line.  Crews will again work with the infrared scanner to identify and extinguish any remaining hot spots.  The fire is expected to transfer back the local agencies on Sunday July 11th unless conditions change. 

There are 229 personnel assigned to the incident and to date there have been no reported injuries or any structures lost.  The total acreage remains at 232 and is expected to stay at that number.

Evacuation levels: All evacuation orders and road closures have been lifted.  Motorists and residents should expect to continue to see firefighting traffic in and around the area of the fire.

The Andrus Fire started Monday July 5th at approximately 11:30 am, 3 miles NE of Cheney, near Andrus Rd.  Firefighters from Fire District 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, Airway Heights Fire, Cheney Fire, Spokane City Fire, Spokane Valley Fire, Lincoln County, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and numerous other agencies responded.

Cheney, WA –Overnight crews continued the process of identifying hotspots within the fire perimeter using infrared scanners.  These areas are marked to allow firefighters today to work to cool the last remaining areas of concern.  Firefighters will then complete mopping up 200 feet in from the perimeter, 500 feet from structures as well as making repairs to areas affected by suppression activities. The fire is now 80% contained.  Firefighters will continue the process of demobilization today.  A smaller contingent of resources will remain behind for several more days to assist the local agencies.

The fire is expected to transfer back the local agencies on Sunday July 11th unless conditions change. 

There are 229 personnel assigned to the incident and to date there have been no reported injuries or any structures lost.  The total acreage remains at 232 and is expected to stay at that number.

Evacuation levels: All evacuation orders and road closures have been lifted.  Motorists and residents should expect to continue to see firefighting traffic in and around the area of the fire.

The Andrus Fire started Monday July 5th at approximately 11:30 am, 3 miles NE of Cheney, near Andrus Rd.  Firefighters from Fire District 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, Airway Heights Fire, Cheney Fire, Spokane City Fire, Spokane Valley Fire, Lincoln County, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and numerous other agencies responded.

Cheney, WA – Yesterday, firefighters finished mopping up and repairing damage from suppression activities and at 8:00 am this morning the incident will be turned back to Spokane County Fire District 3 and Washington State Department of Natural Resources.  The fire is now 100% contained.  Northeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 2 has demobilized and would like to express our appreciation to the community and all our agency partners who helped make this assignment a success.   

A small contingent of firefighters will remain on the fire over the next several days to monitor conditions and patrol the fire lines.   Residents may continue to see smoke within the fire perimeter.  There have been no reported injuries or any structures lost.  The fire burned 232 acres. 

Evacuation levels: All evacuation orders and road closures have been lifted.  Motorists and residents should expect to continue to see firefighting traffic in and around the area of the fire over the next few days.

The Andrus Fire started Monday July 5th at approximately 11:30 am, 3 miles NE of Cheney, near Andrus Rd.  Firefighters from Fire District 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, Airway Heights Fire, Cheney Fire, Spokane City Fire, Spokane Valley Fire, Lincoln County, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and numerous other agencies responded.

New wildfire near Dixie exceeds 1,000 acres despite aggressive initial attack

Firefighting resources are actively engaged in full suppression operations on the Dixie fire, located 40 miles southeast of Grangeville and 15 miles south of Elk City near the community of Dixie. The fire is estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,500 acres as of 7 a.m. (PDT) on July 6. Aviation and ground resources are resuming fire suppression operations near Dixie Summit along Forest Service Road #222 early this morning.
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“Multiple helicopters and large retardant tankers worked on the fire from time of detection to the very last possible minute of daylight yesterday during initial attack,” said Jim Wimer, Public Affairs Specialist for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests.

The Dixie fire was detected in the early afternoon on July 5 by aviation resources that were engaged in suppression operations on a different fire at the time. The cause of the Dixie fire is unconfirmed at this time due to extreme fire behavior near the point of origin, but fire managers believe it was started by lightning from recent thunderstorm activity in the area.

Due to the current combination of hot, dry conditions and the accumulations of heavy dead and down fuels, the fire was able to spread rapidly and quickly exceed the capabilities of local aviation and ground resources on scene. A Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered and is tentatively expected to assume command of the Dixie fire at 6 a.m. (PDT) on Thursday, July 8. Until that time, the fire is being managed under a local Type 3 organization, with multiple aircraft, crews, engines, and heavy equipment currently assigned.

Temporary flight restrictions will be put in place over the fire area today for the safety of the public as well as of aerial firefighting resources. Remember, “If you fly, we can’t.” Please avoid the Dixie area, both on the ground and in the air, while fire resources are working. The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is working closely with the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office to evaluate and implement evacuation orders as needed. [UPDATE: Evacuation orders are in place in the Dixie and Comstock areas. Follow the Idaho County Sheriff's Office on Facebook for updates.]

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests fire information is available online at https://bit.ly/NPCFireInfo, on social media at www.facebook.com/NPClwNFs and www.twitter.com/NPClwNFs, on the forest’s official mobile app (search “Nez Perce Clearwater” in your app store), or by calling your local ranger station. Report all wildfires to the Grangeville Interagency Dispatch Center (208-983-6800) or call 911.

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 Evacuations are in effect in the Dixie and Comstock area due to the Dixie fire. Evacuation updates are being provided by the Idaho County Sheriff's Office. Please make sure to follow the Idaho County Sheriff's Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Idaho-County-Sheriffs-Office-178393728844032/ for the latest information.

 Dixie fire exceeds 7,000 acres as firefighters continue suppression efforts

KAMIAH, Idaho: July 7, 2021—Firefighting resources are still engaged in suppression operations on the Dixie fire, located 40 miles southeast of Grangeville and 15 miles south of Elk City near the community of Dixie. The fire is estimated to be about 7,000 acres as of 7 a.m. (PDT) on July 7. The fire has continued to burn actively and spread in all directions, and fire managers are anticipating that will be the case today as well. Today, aviation and ground resources are focusing their efforts on structure protection and improving the roads and fuel breaks near the communities of Dixie and Comstock.

The Idaho County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation orders for the Dixie and Comstock area. For evacuation information and updates, please follow the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Idaho-County-Sheriffs-Office-178393728844032 .

A Type 1 Incident Management Team will be arriving to the Dixie fire and in-briefing today, and will assume command of the fire at 6 a.m. (PDT) on Thursday, July 8. Until that time, the fire is being managed under a local Type 3 organization, with multiple aircraft, crews, engines, medical personnel, and heavy equipment currently assigned.

Fire officials are developing a closure order for the Dixie fire area; more information will be distributed as soon as it becomes available. Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests closure information is available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nezperceclearwater/alerts-notices . Temporary flight restrictions are in place over the fire area for the safety of the public as well as of aerial firefighting resources.

Dixie fire information is available on InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7608/ .

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests fire information is available online at https://bit.ly/NPCFireInfo , on social media at www.facebook.com/NPClwNFs and www.twitter.com/NPClwNFs , on the forest’s official mobile app (search “Nez Perce Clearwater” in your app store), or by calling your local ranger station. Report all wildfires to the Grangeville Interagency Dispatch Center (208-983-6800) or call 911. 

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Dixie fire now 11,000 acres; Wednesday lightning storms caused new fires across the region

KAMIAH, Idaho: July 8, 2021— Firefighting resources are still engaged in suppression operations on the Dixie fire, located 40 miles southeast of Grangeville and 15 miles south of Elk City near the community of Dixie. The fire is estimated to be a little over 11,000 acres as of 7 a.m. (PDT) on July 8. The fire has continued to burn actively and spread in all directions, and fire managers are anticipating that will continue today under current conditions. Today, aviation and ground resources are continuing structure protection work and improving the roads and fuel breaks near the communities of Dixie, Comstock, Mallard Creek, and several private inholdings on the Main Salmon River.
 
Doug Turman’s Type 1 Northern Rockies National Incident Management Team 2 has assumed command of the Dixie fire as of 6 a.m. (PDT) July 8. Future Dixie fire updates will be issued by the Incident Management Team. Dixie fire information will continue to be issued via press release and made available on InciWeb (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7608/) and on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests’ website and social media channels.
 
An area closure for the Dixie fire area is now in effect. Please see attached map for details. A copy of the official closure order is available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nezperceclearwater/alerts-notices under “Public Notices.”
On July 6, the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders for the Dixie and Comstock area. For evacuation information and updates, please continue to follow the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Idaho-County-Sheriffs-Office-178393728844032.
 
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests fire information is available online at https://bit.ly/NPCFireInfo, on social media at www.facebook.com/NPClwNFs and www.twitter.com/NPClwNFs, on the forest’s official mobile app (search “Nez Perce Clearwater” in your app store), or by calling your local ranger station. Report all wildfires to the Grangeville Interagency Dispatch Center (208-983-6800) or call 911.
 
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As of 6 a.m. (PDT) July 8, Doug Turman’s Type 1 Northern Rockies National Incident Management Team 2 assumed command of the Dixie and Jumbo Fires.  The team is employing an aggressive suppression strategy, factoring in the large national competition for incident resources, current environmental conditions, topography, and predicted weather patterns in the coming days. The Team publishes daily updates on the fires on the "News" section of this webpage.

Fire Information: (208)207-7417
Evacuation Information: Call Idaho County Sheriff, 208-983-1100
Fire Information Email: 2021.dixie@firenet.gov
Fire Information Facebook: @NPClwNFs  
Fire Information Twitter: @NPClwNFs
 
Daily Update with fire statistics and summary information provided in the attachment. 

 KAMIAH, Idaho: July 9, 2021—The Grangeville Interagency Dispatch Zone, which includes lands and fire response areas for the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Department of Lands, Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association, and Nez Perce Tribe, has coordinated initial attack responses for over 70 new wildland fires that have started since Monday, July 5. These land managers are working closely together to determine response priorities and how to most efficiently share and allocate their limited firefighting resources based on real time information and values at risk.

Based on this recent fire activity and current EXTREME fire conditions across the region, land management agencies and fire managers in the Grangeville Fire Restrictions Area have decided to implement STAGE 2 FIRE RESTRICTIONS starting at 12:01 A.M. on Friday, July 16.

“We will be moving directly into Stage 2 Fire Restrictions this season,” said Cheryl Probert, Forest Supervisor for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests within the Grangeville Fire Restrictions Area. “We decided not to implement Stage 1 restrictions immediately because we meet the conditions now for Stage 2 restrictions; we reached that threshold very quickly after the last heat wave.

“Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are stricter than Stage 1, so we wanted to make sure everyone, including those working in industries that operate machinery and equipment within this restriction area, have ample time to prepare for these restrictions,” explained Probert. “This is why the decision was made to implement these Stage 2 restrictions on Friday, July 16 and not sooner.”

Even though Stage 2 Fire Restrictions will not be immediately implemented, land managers ask the public to continue being extremely careful with any activity that can cause a spark. Individuals are encouraged to begin following the Stage 2 Fire Restrictions protocol even before the restrictions are formally in effect.

“We greatly appreciate the continued efforts of everyone in our local communities and everyone visiting our local public lands who are taking precautions to prevent human–caused wildfires,” said Probert.

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests fire information is available online at https://bit.ly/NPCFireInfo  on social media at www.facebook.com/NPClwNFs  and www.twitter.com/NPClwNFs , on the forest’s official mobile app (search “Nez Perce Clearwater” in your app store), or by calling your local ranger station. Report all wildfires to the Grangeville Interagency Dispatch Center (208-983-6800) or call 911.