Incident Publication

Highlights: Yesterday’s weather conditions brought cooler temperatures, higher humidities and precipitation reducing fire activity and allowing firefighters to continue to construct line near the fire’s edge where safe to do so. However, after the lightning activity that also occurred yesterday crews are prepared to perform initial attack, if needed, and will be engaging the fire cautiously as today’s weather is anticipated to bring stronger winds.

Tumbledown Fire: 9,002 Acres | 0% Contained Today, on the west flank crews contained 2 small spot fires on industrial timber and Forest Service lands. Heavy equipment is being used to construct line in the Nugget Creek drainage while hand crews are working on the steeper slopes. A structure protection group is assessing structures on the west perimeter of the fire to determine the best mitigation measures for properties in the community of Avery. A heavy equipment taskforce is now able to access the south flank of the fire from Bluff Creek Road and constructing mechanical line. Where possible, crews are going direct, digging handline on the steeper slopes near the fire’s edge.

Firefighters continue scouting potential containment lines to safely construct fire line from Highway 50 east to the Quartz Road. On the north flank of the fire, two heavy equipment taskforces are working toward one another from the Quartz and Bruin roads to construct line and to contain a spot fire south of Blackjack Peak. The Simmons group of fires is being patrolled by air and has shown no recent fire activity.

Dolly Creek Fire: 825 Acres | 0% Contained Containment lines in Dolly Creek and Washout creek continue to hold. An engine taskforce is working to maintain and improve line on the northeast flank of the fire.

Special Statement
Numerous fires burning in Western Montana and Idaho Panhandle have been grouped into two complexes. The Stateline Complex consists of numerous fires burning on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, the two largest being the Dolly Creek and Tumbledown Fires. The West Lalo Complex consists now of only the Thorne Creek Fire. The Character Complex is comprised of both the Deceitful and Pritchard fires. The Character Complex is located on the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle.

Fire
Fire activity should be moderate due to a combination of good humidity recoveries and inversions. Winds will increase by afternoon. Expect winds to be out of the west at 10 - 15 mph with gusts to 20 mph. Back and flanking is expect but winds could push fire into unburned fuels.

Smoke
Mostly sunny with cooler temperatures today. Expect high level haze due to fires burning in Central and Northern Washington. Most of the forecast areas will see overall  'Moderate' conditions today Thompson Falls, Avery, Polson and Kellogg could expect to see overall Moderate air throughout the day with brief periods of Good during the morning. Expect rain on Sunday morning and into the afternoon with partly sunny skies returning by mid afternoon. Cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity will reduce smoky conditions throughout the forecast area tomorrow as well.

More Information
Check out" https://montanawildfiresmoke.org" for information on what you can do to protect your health during wildfire season. The prolonged duration of smoke will start to even affect healthy individuals.

Highlights: Today’s weather conditions will continue to moderate fire behavior resulting in slow fire spread; however, increasing winds are starting to dry out exposed fuel and an increase in smoke can be expected. A likely chance of precipitation on Saturday night and Sunday morning will continue to provide favorable conditions, allowing crews to go more direct to the fire’s edge.  Additionally, clear skies today will allow for air operations to resume water bucket and retardant drops if needed to prevent further spotting across the drainage. 

A spike camp is currently being erected near Avery to provide additional fire suppression support and decrease the time required to drive from the camp in St. Regis to the western side of the complex near Avery.  Firefighters are preparing for initial attack, if needed, and continue to construct, improve and hold fire line.  

Tumbledown Fire: 9,002 Acres | 0% Contained Today, hand crews are performing mop up on several spot fires that were identified yesterday in the southern perimeter near Hardpan. Crews continue to scout opportunities to go direct on the western perimeter using existing roads to connect fire line to protect the town of Avery and industrial timber lands. Where terrain is too difficult for heavy equipment to access, crews are constructing handline or using indirect strategies. Heavy equipment is being used to construct indirect line in the northern perimeter from Nugget Creek to Bennett Creek.  A Heavy Equipment Taskforce is using heavy equipment to construct line from the Bruin Tumbledown Road to the southwest and northwest permitter of the fire.

To connect Quartz Creek to Bruin Creek in the northwest, firefighters are also utilizing heavy equipment to work from opposite ends and existing roads are being utilized to connect the southern area from Conrad Peak to Bluff Point. Bluff Creek and Fuzzy Creek continue to be scouted for additional opportunities to go direct. 

Dolly Creek Fire: 825 Acres | 0% Contained Crews are continuing to do structure protection and fuels reduction near Red Ives Guard Station and in areas of planned restoration projects. On the southern perimeter, firefighters are holding line at Washout Creek and continue to seek containment around the fire’s edge.

Weather and Smoke:  A welcomed break from smoky conditions will present blue skies and full sun.  Today’s weather will be similar to yesterday with temperatures in the mid-70’s and higher relative humidity than previously seen earlier in the week. The fire area can expect to see overall Moderate air quality throughout the day with brief periods of Good during the morning. A high level of smoky haze due to fires burning in Central and Northern Washington can be expected. A cold front bringing a high chance of wetting rain is anticipated for Sunday. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity will reduce smoky conditions for the next several days. For more information on smoke conditions, visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/. 

Evacuations & Closures: The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office has issued several evacuation orders and road closures in the area. For more information call the Sheriff’s office at (208) 556-1114.  Idaho Panhandle National Forests closures can be found on the Stateline Complex’s Closure Inciweb page: https://bit.ly/StatelineComplex.  An expanded closure order was issued for the St. Joe Ranger District.  For more information on the USFS Idaho Panhandle National Forest closures go to the Stateline Complex Inciweb site at: https://bit.ly/StatelineComplexClosure.

Primary and Cooperating Agencies:  USDA USFS, Idaho Department of Lands, Shoshone County, and Shoshone County Sheriff.

Special Statement

Highlights: Today, an eastern moving front will bring a chance of wetting rain over the fire area early morning with a break mid-day and showers resuming in the afternoon. As weather allows, improved smoke conditions will provide the ideal visibility needed to continue air operations. These conditions will reduce fire activity and provide a much-needed relief to firefighters. However, although the overall fire activity will decrease, the fire may remain active and produce smoke in areas where burning dead and down fuel are sheltered from rain.  While the fire area has received rain, the Idaho Panhandle National Forest remains in Stage II Fire Restrictions.

Tumbledown Fire: 9,002 Acres | 0% Contained Crews will continue to monitor and hold line in the Nugget Creek area to keep the fire east of Avery and commercial timber lands. With improved visibility, air attack was able to resume yesterday and provide bucket drops to extinguish spot fires located south of Hardpan Peak and on the eastern side near Bruin Creek.  Where necessary, air attack will continue bucket drops today to prevent further spotting across the bridge on the 1956 Road. From the ground, firefighters will also be looking for additional spot fires outside the fire perimeter east of Nugget Creek and constructing handline on the western edge of the fire. The structure group will continue to perform structure prep in the Avery area.

Crews will utilize the Bruin-Tumbledown Road to hold the line east and work west from the northern and southern flank. To reduce fire spread to the north, firefighters will monitor, prep and construct direct fireline with heavy equipment, between Quartz Creek Road and Bruin Creek. In the southern area of the fire, heavy equipment will be constructing direct fireline using existing roads to tie in the Bear Creek, Fuzzy Bennet and Bluff Creek areas to the St. Joe River Road.  

Dolly Creek Fire: 825 Acres | 0% Contained Yesterday, crews performed mop up within the fire interior.  Fireline was prepped and constructed between Dolly Creek and Washout Creek. Today, engine personnel will continue to construct fireline on the east flank of the fire and the Heavy Equipment Task Force (HETF) will continue to do structure prep and fuels reduction near Red Ives Guard Station and improve access to restoration project areas. An Initial Attack group will be available, as needed.

Weather and Smoke:  A low-pressure cold front is expected to bring a 90% chance of wetting rain with lows in the 60’s and winds from toward the north/northeast, gusting up to 20 mph. Today, smoke should be minimal throughout the fire area resulting in good air quality. As the week progresses, a warming trend is anticipated to occur.  Warmer temperatures and drier conditions will return increasing the chances for more active fire and increasing smoke.  For more information on smoke conditions, visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/.   

Evacuations & Closures: The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office has issued several evacuation orders and road closures in the area. For more information call the Sheriff’s office at (208) 556-1114.  Idaho Panhandle National Forests closures can be found on the Stateline Complex’s Closure Inciweb page: https://bit.ly/StatelineComplex.  An expanded closure order was issued for the St. Joe Ranger District.  For more information on the USFS Idaho Panhandle National Forest closures go to the Stateline Complex Inciweb site at: https://bit.ly/StatelineComplexClosure.

Primary and Cooperating Agencies:  USDA USFS, Idaho Department of Lands, Shoshone County, and Shoshone County Sheriff.

Drive slowly; turn on your lights. Avoid closures. No flying or drones over the fire area; Temporary Flight Restriction in place. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect for all of northern Idaho.

Special Statement
Numerous fires burning in Western Montana and Idaho Panhandle have been grouped into two complexes. The Stateline Complex consists of numerous fires burning on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, the two largest being the Dolly Creek and Tumbledown Fires. The West Lolo Complex consists now of only the Thome Creek Fire. The Character Complex is comprised of both the Deceitful and Pritchard fires. The Character Complex is located on the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle.

Fire
Yesterdays rain and higher relative humidity helped in reducing fire activity and smoke. Today will be sunny but higher relative humidity will persist, keeping fire activity minimal, only burning in pockets of unburned fuel. As the week progresses, expect drier, warmer conditions to return with increasing potential for fire activity

Smoke
Today, expect air quality to be Good throughout the forecast area. Smoky haze from fires burning in Central and Northern Washington may be observed but should not impact air quality throughout the forecasted area. Outdoor activity is encouraged with the improvement in air quality.

More Information
Check out" https://montanawildfiresmoke.org" for information on what you can do to protect your health during wildfire season. The prolonged duration of smoke will start to even affect healthy individuals.

Highlights: Recent weather has dampened the fire area and decreased fire spread; however, the Coeur d’Alene Dispatch Zone remains in extreme fire danger with Stage II Fire Restrictions because fuels are expected to quickly dry out during the week increasing fire behavior. 

Although fire activity is currently diminished, fire continues to smolder and creep across the ground, especially in areas where dead and down fuel was sheltered by canopy. Some tree torching may still occur. Fire crews will take full advantage of the recently decreased fire behavior today as progressively warmer temperatures, high pressure and drier conditions are anticipated to increase fire activity throughout the week. 

Tumbledown Fire: 9,146 Acres | 0% Contained Yesterday, additional fire crews arrived to help the fire suppression efforts.  These crews will be adding to and reinforcing the work put forth by firefighters over the past several weeks.  Heavy equipment such as dozers, masticators, and feller bunchers continue to work at building control lines in areas that allow for large machinery.  In areas around the fire are too steep for equipment to safely operate, hand crews will be used to build fireline, essentially connecting line built by the machinery. 

Starting on Highway 50 on the east side of the fire, crews are working north and around to the west with the goal of ultimately connecting line being constructed eastward from Quartz Creek.  Work continues to move forward in the Bluff Creek drainage as crews construct and hold direct fireline. Fireline along Nugget Creek has been holding and firefighters continue to monitor it while others scout for the best route to tie fireline to Highway 50 on the west side of the fire. 

Dolly Creek Fire: 831 Acres | 0% Contained  The Dolly Creek Fire continues to creep and smolder without any significant increases in fire behavior.  As fireline has been completed around the fire perimeter, mop-up work progresses further inside the interior.  Crews work towards the goal of establishing (at least) 300 feet of “cold black” inside the control lines in order to reduce the possibility of fire breaching those lines.  Structure protection has succeeded in protecting the values at risk and will begin to relocate pumps and other equipment to other priority areas.  Firefighters will also be available for initial attack, should the need arise.

Weather and Smoke:  Much welcomed rain fell over the entire fire area both yesterday morning and evening, bringing up to one half to three quarters of an inch in some areas.  This morning will start the day with cooler temperatures, higher RH’s and cloud cover.  As the day progresses, clouds will burn off and temperatures will increase with highs in the low 70’s.  Today’s increase in temperature will begin a warming trend that is expected to gradually increase temperature throughout the week. Lower relative humidity and light to moderate westerly winds are forecasted.  Air quality is expected to be good today; however, fire burning in Washington may result in a smoky haze. For more information on smoke conditions, visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Evacuations & Closures: The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office has issued several evacuation orders and road closures in the area. For more information call the Sheriff’s office at (208) 556-1114.  Idaho Panhandle National Forests closures can be found on the Stateline Complex’s Closure Inciweb page: https://bit.ly/StatelineComplex.  An expanded closure order was issued for the St. Joe Ranger District.  For more information on the USFS Idaho Panhandle National Forests closures go to the Stateline Complex Inciweb site at: https://bit.ly/StatelineComplexClosure.

Primary and Cooperating Agencies:  USDA USFS, Idaho Department of Lands, Shoshone County, and Shoshone County Sheriff.

Special Statement
Numerous fires burning in Western Montana and Idaho Panhandle have been grouped into two complexes. The Stateline Complex consists of numerous fires burning on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, the two largest being the Dolly Creek and Tumbledown Fires. The West Lolo Complex consists now of only the Thome Creek Fire. The Character Complex is comprised of both the Deceitful and Pritchard fires. The Character Complex is located on the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle.

Fire
Successful suppression activities continue, aided by cooler temperatures and the moisture we saw over the weekend. The fire continues to creep and smolder and we could see an uptick in activity as we dry back out, and return to hotter than normal temperatures.

Smoke
Air quality was generally good yesterday and we expect similar conditions today. We will see some haze, primarily due to larger fires to our west. Warmer and drier conditions are returning, so we will see air quality slowly degrade as we get closer to the weekend. But for today, take advantage of the clearer air!

More Information
Check out" https://montanawildfiresmoke.org" for information on what you can do to protect your health during wildfire season. The prolonged duration of smoke will start to even affect healthy individuals.

Highlights: The warming trend continues today with temps topping out in the 80’s.  This trend is expected to continue throughout the week and will bring with it the potential for more active fire behavior.  The benefit of rain that fell over the weekend, which moderated fire behavior for a few days, has mostly diminished.  Firefighters remain focused and diligently work on constructing firelines around the fire.

Tumbledown Fire: 9,146 Acres | 5% Contained  Additional fire crews arrived yesterday to help the fire effort.  These crews will be adding to and reinforcing the efforts put forth by firefighters over the past few weeks.  Heavy equipment such as dozers, masticators, and feller bunchers continue to work at building control lines in areas that are conducive for large machinery.  Some areas around the fire are too steep for equipment to safely operate so, in these areas, hand crews will be critical for building control lines that will essentially bridge the gaps between lines built by the machinery. 
 
On Highway 50, on the east side of the fire, crews are working north and around to the west with the goal of ultimately meeting up with other fire line being built eastward from Quartz Creek.  Work continues to move forward in the Bluff Creek drainage as crews construct and hold direct firelines. The firelines along Nugget Creek have been holding well.  Crews continue to monitor previously constructed line there while others scout for the best route to tie this line in to Highway 50 on the west side of the fire.  Crews around this fire are in the process of planning the next steps while implementing the existing plan.
 
Dolly Creek Fire: 831 Acres | 46% Contained  Enormous progress has been made on the Dolly Creek
Fire.  Firefighters continue to secure, hold, and monitor the existing firelines.  Firefighters are also
mopping up a short distance inside the black for additional reinforcement of the line.  Firefighters
will also be available for initial attack, should the need arise.

Weather and Smoke:  A ridge of high pressure has begun to build over the entire complex.  This will
bring an increase of 5°-7° each day for the next several days and by the end of the week near record temperatures will likely be reached.  Along with the uptick in temperatures, the relative humidity will steadily decrease although winds will remain moderate.  These conditions will bring the potential for an increase in fire behavior.  Air quality is projected to remain good throughout the day today and very little smoke should be visible.  

Evacuations & Closures: The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office has issued several evacuation orders
and road closures in the area. For more information call the Sheriff’s office at (208) 556-1114.  Idaho Panhandle National Forests closures can be found on the Stateline Complex’s Closure Inciweb page: https://bit.ly/StatelineComplex.  An expanded closure order is in place for the St. Joe Ranger District. 

For more information on the USFS Idaho Panhandle National Forests closures go to the Stateline Complex Inciweb site at: https://bit.ly/StatelineComplexClosure.
 
Primary and Cooperating Agencies:  USDA USFS, Idaho Department of Lands, Shoshone County, and Shoshone County Sheriff.

Special Statement
The Stateline Complex consists of numerous fires burning on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, the two largest being the Dolly Creek and Tumbledown Fires. The West Lalo Complex consists now of only the Thorne Creek Fire. The Character Complex is comprised of both the Deceitful and Pritchard fires.

Fire
Successful suppression activities continue, aided by cooler temperatures and the moisture we saw over the weekend. The fire continues to creep and smolder and we could see an uptick in activity as we dry back out, and return to hotter than normal temperatures.

Smoke
Air quality was generally good yesterday and we expect similar conditions today. Thompson Falls has had the most impacted air quality mainly in the mid to late morning hours. This trend may continue into the weekend. We will see some haze, primarily due to larger fires to our west. Warmer and drier conditions are returning, so we will see air quality slowly degrade as we get closer to the weekend.

More Information
Check out " https://montanawildfiresmoke.org" for information on what you can do to protect your health during wildfire season. The prolonged duration of smoke will start to even affect healthy individuals.