CUSICK, Wash. – A dry cold front will be moving in from east British Columbia and is expected to reach the fire area today.  This weather pattern is often referred to as a "backdoor" cold front and is typically associated with passage movement from the north.  This change in weather patterns can generate winds that will shift to a northeast-southwest trajectory later in the day with potential gusts reaching 25-30 mph.

 CUSICK, Wash. – Full suppression fire tactics are being utilized to keep fire activity away from Tacoma Creek Road, east of Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge, and north of Calispell Peak and North Fork Tacoma Creek. 

 CUSICK, Wash. –Northwest Incident Management Team 13, a Type 2 team under Brian Gales, assumed command of the Boulder Mountain Fire this morning.

#BoulderMountainFire Daily Update Saturday, September 17, 2022 Boulder Mountain Fire Information 509-508-3389 (8am-8pm) | 2022.bouldermountain@firenet.gov Quick FactsFire Location: 9 miles NW of Cusick, WA in Tacoma Creek and Boulder Mtn.Size: 2,305 acresContainment: 74%Start Date: 8/31/22Cause: Under InvestigationIncident Commander: Mike Johnston, Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team #7Personnel: 476Online LinksInciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8382/ Facebook: @NeWFireInfoWashington State Department of Natural Resources: www.dnr.wa.gov/wildfiresColville National Forest: www.fs.usda.gov/colville Air Quality Informational: https://www.airnow.gov/
Summary: The Boulder Mountain Fire was detected on Wednesday August 31st, 2022, at approximately 6:00 pm. The fire is located in the Tacoma Creek and Boulder Mountain area, 9 miles Northwest of Cusick, Washington. A mix of State, Federal and Private land is impacted. The terrain is difficult, and the fire is burning in heavy timber, slash, and beetle infested trees. Cause of the fire remains under investigation.
 Weather|Anticipated Fire Behavior: Yesterday’s cooler temperatures and higher humidity once again assisted with firefighting efforts. Today we expect a similar weather pattern with cool temperatures continuing through the weekend. Fire activity is primarily creeping and smoldering with heat still registering in the large dead and downed fuels but overall fire behavior is minimal.
 Actions: Continued patrol and mop up will take place as crews move deeper into the burn area using hose lays and water to add depth to control lines. A few sections of the fire’s edge are experiencing heat as well. The equipment needed for suppression repair is in place with the plan in motion around contained areas of the fire. This work includes repairing dozer lines, hand lines and improving impacted roads.
 Important Information: Today is the final day of operations under Great Basin Team 7’s command. NW Team 13 - Incident Management Type 2 team under the command of Brian Gales, assumes control of the fire Sunday at 630am. During our 14-days on the fire there’s been an immense amount of hard work from the firefighters and other resources. We’ve made great progress and are proud to state the fire is now 74% contained. Fighting fire is never an individual effort. The support of the local communities, the Kalispell Tribe, the local and state agencies helped to make this possible. We want to thank everyone for their efforts and cooperation. Thank you for letting us be a part of your team.- Mike Johnston, Incident Commander Great Basin Team 7

Trail and road closures were lifted for the Government and Billiard Fires as of 0800 10/3 and for the Isabella Lake Fire as of 0800 9/30. Crews continue working in the area. Visitors may experience temporary road closures while crews perform hazardous roadside work. Please drive cautiously, follow posted speed limits, and follow safety instructions.

Please join the Kootenai National Forest for a community meeting to discuss work on the fire. The meeting will be held on Thursday, October 6 at 10:00 AM at the Noxon Fire Hall: 401 Noxon Avenue, Noxon, Montana, 59853.

Total Acreage: 4,279

Completion: 36%

BREAKDOWN BY FIRE

Government Fire: 2,785 acres

Billiard Fire: 1,210 acres

Isabella Lake Fire: 284 acres

TRANSITION: Management of the Bull Gin Complex will transition to the Kootenai National Forest as a type 4 incident on Sunday, 10/2 at 0700. This is the last formal update. Relevant information will continue to be released on InciWeb and the Kootenai National Forest Facebook page.

HIGHLIGHTS: Today crews wrap up suppression repair work on the Government and Billiard Fires. The fire continues to slowly creep and smolder through dried fuels, containment lines are in place. Firefighters continue point protection of structures and fire progression monitoring. Road and trail closures for the Isabella Lake Fire are lifted as of 0800 Friday, 9/30. Road and trail closures for the Government and Billiard Fires will be lifted at 0800 Monday, 10/3.

Government Fire: Firefighters continue repair work around the fire’s edges. Excavator work along the south boundary of the fire was hindered by steep terrain so crews have been placing hand lines. Operations staff expect that repair work will be completed by Saturday, 10/1.

Billiard Fire: Most suppression repair work is complete. Today crews will focus their effort along Fatman Mountain Road. Operations staff expect that repair work will be completed by the end of Friday, 9/30.

Isabella Lake Fire: Crews continue monitoring fire behavior.

WEATHER: Incident meteorologists predict cooler temperatures over the fire area today with moderate rainfall. Cool conditions with some rainfall are expected to last through today, 9/30, and possibly through the weekend. Predicted temperatures today are lows in the mid-50s and highs in the high-60s.

Total Acreage: 4,279

Completion: 36%

BREAKDOWN BY FIRE

Government Fire: 2,785 acres

Billiard Fire: 1,210 acres

Isabella Lake Fire: 284 acres

HIGHLIGHTS: Management of the Bull Gin Complex transitioned to a Type 3 incident management team as of 1800 Monday, 9/26. Updates will be released every other day because of reduced fire activity. Today crews are advancing suppression repair work on the Government and Billiard Fires. Efforts focus on repair of impacted areas including fire lines, helispots, and camps. The fire continues to slowly creep and smolder toward completion lines, burning through small, dried fuels and low vegetation. Firefighters continue point protection of structures and fire progression monitoring.

Government Fire: Firefighters advance mop-up work around the fire’s edges. Crews are performing excavator work along the fire boundary and a grader is repairing roads around the Government Mountain area. Operations staff expect that repair work will be completed by Saturday, 10/1.

Billiard Fire: Crews continue mop-up and suppression repair, especially along Billiard Cabin, Fatman, and 2293 Roads. Operations staff expect that repair work will be completed by Saturday, 10/1.

Isabella Lake Fire: Crews continue monitoring fire behavior.

WEATHER: Cloud cover and higher relative humidity will increase tonight, 9/28, as this week’s high-pressure ridge moves out of the area of the Bull Gin Complex and a cold front moves in. Incident meteorologists expect temperatures to drop, with lows in the mid-50s and highs in the high-60s, and the chance of precipitation will increase. Cooler weather will likely remain in the area through Thursday, 9/29.

Total Acreage: 4,279

Completion: 36%

BREAKDOWN BY FIRE

Government Fire: 2,785 acres

Billiard Fire: 1,210 acres

Isabella Lake Fire: 284 acres

HIGHLIGHTS: Management of the Bull Gin Complex transitioned to a Type 3 incident management team as of 1800 Monday, 9/26. Updates will be released every other day because of reduced fire activity. Today crews are advancing suppression repair work on the Government and Billiard Fires. Efforts focus on repair of impacted areas including fire lines, helispots, and camps. The fire continues to slowly creep and smolder toward completion lines, burning through small, dried fuels and low vegetation. Firefighters continue point protection of structures and fire progression monitoring.

Government Fire: Firefighters advance mop-up work around the fire’s edges. Crews are performing excavator work along the fire boundary and a grader is repairing roads around the Government Mountain area. Operations staff expect that repair work will be completed by Saturday, 10/1.

Billiard Fire: Crews continue mop-up and suppression repair, especially along Billiard Cabin, Fatman, and 2293 Roads. Operations staff expect that repair work will be completed by Saturday, 10/1.

Isabella Lake Fire: Crews continue monitoring fire behavior.

WEATHER: Cloud cover and higher relative humidity will increase tonight, 9/28, as this week’s high-pressure ridge moves out of the area of the Bull Gin Complex and a cold front moves in. Incident meteorologists expect temperatures to drop, with lows in the mid-50s and highs in the high-60s, and the chance of precipitation will increase. Cooler weather will likely remain in the area through Thursday, 9/29.

Total Acreage: 4,266

Completion: 36%

BREAKDOWN BY FIRE

Government Fire: 2,773 acres

Billiard Fire: 1,203 acres

Isabella Lake Fire: 290 acres

HIGHLIGHTS: Firefighters continue mopping up, suppression repair, and completion efforts on the Bull Gin Complex. Though completion did not increase today, fire activity remains minimal due to favorable weather and firefighting efforts. The fire within the Complex will continue to creep and smolder slowly toward fire lines, as expected, and firefighters will patrol where appropriate. The Walness Fire, which began four days ago, is out. Temporary flight restrictions are lifted as of today, September 25.

Government Fire: Firefighters continue mopping up along the southern boundary of the fire, especially near private residences and near C Spur Road. The excavator will be advancing road repair work south, along the fire’s western boundary. A grader will also assist with road repair work.

Billiard Fire: Crews focus on suppression repair work and mop-up. Road repair advances along both Billiard Cabin and Fatman Roads. Excavators will continue road repairs over the next week. Sawyers are felling hazard trees while crews clear debris from culverts. Firefighters will remove the structure wrap from the Star Peak Lookout in the fire area today.

Isabella Lake Fire: The Grangeville Helitack Crew removed the structure wrap from the bridge in the fire area yesterday.