Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires
September 19, 2022
Daily Update – 8:00 AM

Highlights: While precipitation fell across all four fires today, precipitation amounts varied significantly. In general, rainfall was highest in the southwest and decreased as you move northeast. The Sturgill and Nebo fires received between one tenth and one quarter of an inch, while the north end of the Double Creek fire received around one hundredth of an inch. The potential for rain across the fire area returns Wednesday through Thursday with warmer and drier weather expected beginning on Friday and continuing through the following week.

Double Creek Fire: 157,264 acres | 27% contained |706 personnel assigned

The lightning-caused Double Creek Fire is a full suppression fire, with the protection of lives and property the primary objectives. Crews worked on felling trees along Hat Point Road. This served a dual purpose of reducing fuel and removing hazards along the road. Firefighters established and improved control lines on the southern perimeter of the fire. Crews are continuing to monitor and mop up the west side of the fire.

Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires

The Nebo, Sturgill, and Goat Mountain 2 Fires were lightning-caused and are being managed to protect public and private infrastructure while playing a natural role within designated Wilderness. Progress on managed fires is expressed through the accomplishment of ecological and fuel reduction objectives as opposed to full suppression fires, which is expressed through containment.

Nebo Fire: 12,597 acres | 50% of management objectives achieved |84 personnel assigned

Crews will be cleaning up the trees and brush left over from prepping the 3295 road as a fire break today. Firefighters are rehabilitating control lines and collecting equipment so it can be refurbished and redeployed to future wildfires.

Sturgill Fire: 20,075 acres | 53% of management objectives achieved | 42 personnel assigned

As the work on the shaded fuel break from Lostine to Bear Creek Road is completed, log trucks will be hauling away downed trees so they can be salvaged and processed into wood products. Monitoring and point protection continue around Red’s Horse Ranch.

Goat Mountain 2 Fire: 536 acres | 0 personnel assigned

Fire activity on the Goat Mountain 2 Fire is minimal. Aircraft will continue to monitor the fire as smoke and weather permit.

Weather: Warmer temperatures and lower humidity should return today and remain through tomorrow. Cooler temperatures with a chance of showers are expected to move into the area on Wednesday and Thursday.

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Temporary Area Closures:  The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest issued Temporary Area Closures for the Double Creek Fire, Nebo Fire, and Sturgill and Goat Mountain 2 Fires. Closure Orders and Maps are available on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Fire Incident Updates page.

Road Closures: Lostine River Road at the Forest Service boundary is closed. Highway 350 going to the town of Imnaha is open. Lower Imnaha Road and Dug Bar Road are closed, Upper Imnaha Road is closed, Hat Point Road is closed, and FS 39 Road is closed from Target Springs Junction to Ollokot Campground [including the Canal Rd (3920) and Lick Creek Road (3925)].

Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in place for all National Forest System Lands within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. All fires are prohibited except when fueled by liquid petroleum, charcoal contained in a firepan, or contained in a woodstove with a chimney and spark arresting screen. All fires need to be attended at all times, fully extinguished when not attended, and located in an area free of vegetation within three feet of the fire.

Airspace: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place for the Double Creek Fire to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations over the fire. Be aware that flight restrictions also apply to drones. Drones flying in areas of wildfire activity will cause firefighting aircraft to be grounded. Suspending air operations could decrease the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations, allowing wildfires to grow larger and unduly threaten lives, property, and natural and cultural resources.

Fire Information
Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Phone: 541-216-4579
Email: 2022.doublecreek@firenet.gov

Double Creek Fire
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8366/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/doublecreekfire2022
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/Double-Creek-Fire

Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires
Sturgill Fire InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8364/
Nebo Fire InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8363/
Goat Mountain 2 Fire InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8380/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SturgillNemoGoatMountain2Fires

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/Eagle-Cap-Wilderness-Fires

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires
September 18, 2022
Daily Update – 8:00 AM

Highlights: Fire activity will remain minimal through the weekend allowing firefighters to take advantage of the cooler and wetter weather. A suppression repair branch was activated today. The goal of suppression repair is to return damaged areas to a stable condition that reflects pre-fire conditions. Post-fire repair efforts include debris removal, fence and gate repair, dozer line rehab, and other damage repair related to wildland fire suppression operations.

Double Creek Fire: 157,185 acres | 27% contained |740 personnel assigned

The lightning-caused Double Creek Fire is a full suppression fire, with the protection of lives and property the primary objectives. Crews scouted the northern perimeter of the fire to identify areas for suppression actions. Firefighters are planning to take advantage of the cooler and wetter weather to limit the fire’s spread. Crews are continuing to monitor and mop up the west side of the fire.

Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires

The Nebo, Sturgill, and Goat Mountain 2 Fires were lightning-caused and are being managed to protect public and private infrastructure while playing a natural role within designated Wilderness. Managing wildfire is a strategic choice to use naturally ignited fires to accomplish ecological and fuel reduction objectives. For example, certain trees require fire to germinate their seeds. Fire contributes to nutrient cycling, stimulating growth of grasses, herbs, and shrubs and creating new habitat for wildlife. Managed wildfire also reduces built-up fuels that could lead to an even bigger wildfire in the future if left unchecked.

Nebo Fire: 12,588 acres | 92 personnel assigned

Crews will continue mastication and chipping on the 3925 road today, cleaning up the remaining trees and brush left over from prepping that road as a fire break. That work should be completed by end of shift.

Sturgill Fire: 20,075 acres | 52 personnel assigned

The north end of the Sturgill Fire continues to show heat and moderate fire behavior. Work will continue on the shaded fuel break from Lostine to Bear Creek Road. The fuel break is approximately 90 percent completed with the remainder expected to be completed in the coming days. Monitoring and point protection continue around Red’s Horse Ranch.

Goat Mountain 2 Fire: 536 acres | 0 personnel assigned

Fire activity on the Goat Mountain 2 Fire is minimal. Aircraft will continue to monitor the fire as smoke and weather permit.

Weather: Cooler temperatures and higher humidity should persist for the next several days.  Showers and thunderstorms are possible throughout the day. Wetting rain is most likely over the Sturgill Fire with a decreased likelihood as the system moves to the Northeast. Precipitation is possible through Thursday then we move into a period of warmer and drier weather beginning on Friday.

Evacuations: There are no evacuation orders in place in Wallowa County.

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Temporary Area Closures:  The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest issued Temporary Area
Closures for the Double Creek Fire, Nebo Fire, and Sturgill and Goat Mountain 2 Fires. Closure Orders and Maps are available on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Fire Incident Updates page.

Road Closures: Lostine River Road at the Forest Service boundary is closed. Highway 350 going to the town of Imnaha is open. Lower Imnaha Road and Dug Bar Road are closed, Upper Imnaha Road is closed, Hat Point Road is closed, and FS 39 Road is closed from Target Springs Junction to Ollokot Campground [including the Canal Rd (3920) and Lick Creek Road (3925)].

Airspace: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place for the Double Creek Fire to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations over the fire. Be aware that flight restrictions also apply to drones. Drones flying in areas of wildfire activity will cause firefighting aircraft to be grounded. Suspending air operations could decrease the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations, allowing wildfires to grow larger and unduly threaten lives, property, and natural and cultural resources.

Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in place for all National Forest System Lands within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. All fires are prohibited except when fueled by liquid petroleum, charcoal contained in a firepan, or contained in a woodstove with a chimney and spark arresting screen. All fires need to be attended at all times, fully extinguished when not attended, and located in an area free of vegetation within three feet of the fire.

Fire Information
Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Phone: 541-216-4579
Email: 2022.doublecreek@firenet.gov

Double Creek Fire
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8366/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/doublecreekfire2022
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/Double-Creek-Fire

Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires
Sturgill Fire InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8364/
Nebo Fire InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8363/
Goat Mountain 2 Fire InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8380/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SturgillNemoGoatMountain2Fires
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/Eagle-Cap-Wilderness-Fires

 

###

The Wallowa County Sheriff's Office issued an updated list of road closures this morning at 10:00 a.m.

Fire Road Closure Updates - Saturday, September 17, 2022, at 10:00 AM

Road Closures:

• Lostine River Rd south of the Forest Boundary 
• Lower Imnaha Rd & Dug Bar Rd closed
• Upper Imnaha Rd closed
• Hat Point Rd closed  
• FS 39 Road is closed from Target Springs Junction to Ollokot Campground including the Canal Rd (3920) and Lick Creek Rd (3925)

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires
September 17, 2022
Daily Update – 8:00 AM

Highlights: The Southern Area Blue Team assumed command of the Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, and Goat Mountain 2 Fires at 6:00 a.m. today. The team worked alongside the outgoing Pacific Northwest team yesterday to assess the current situation of the fires and gain knowledge of the area that will help develop their plan moving forward. The Southern Area Blue Team plans to use the favorable current weather to make operational decisions that will set firefighters and the community up well when the forecasted warmer and drier weather arrives. Suppression and protection strategies will continue to be used but the team will also look to establish suppression repair branches in the coming days.

Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires
There are three lightning caused fires within the Eagle Cap Wilderness. The Nebo, Sturgill, and Goat Mountain 2 Fires are being managed to protect public and private infrastructure while playing a natural role within designated Wilderness.

Sturgill Fire: 20,075 acres | 51 personnel assigned
The north end of Sturgill Fire is showing heat and moderate fire behavior. The fire will continue to be monitored by air, and personnel remain at structure protection sites in the area. Work will continue on the shaded fuel break from Lostine to Bear Creek Road. The fuel break is approximately 50 percent completed with the remainder expected to be completed within a week.

Goat Mountain 2 Fire: 536 acres | 0 personnel assigned Fire activity on the Goat Mountain 2 Fire is minimal. Firefighters will continue to monitor the fire by air as smoke and weather permit.

Weather: This weekend will be cool and recent high humidity will remain. There are chances of rain this weekend, but the rain will not fall across a wide area. The system will likely come from the south and the Sturgill Fire currently has the best chance of receiving rain. The Nebo Fire and Double Creek Fire may receive little to no precipitation. This afternoon shows chances for thunderstorms that could last into the evening. One week remains in this period of cooler, wetter conditions before the area trends back to a warmer, drier period. 

Evacuations: The Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office rescinded all evacuation levels at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 14.

Wallowa Whitman National Forest Temporary Area Closures: The Wallowa Whitman National Forest issued Temporary Area Closures for the Double Creek Fire, Nebo Fire, and Sturgill Fire (includes Goat Mountain 2 Fire). Closure Orders and Maps are available on the Wallowa Whitman National Forest Fire Incident Updates page.

Road Closures: Lostine River Road at the Forest Service boundary is closed. Highway 350 going to the town of Imnaha is open. Lower Imnaha Road and Dug Bar Road are closed, Upper Imnaha Road is closed, Hat Point Road is closed, and FS 39 Road is closed from Target Springs Junction to Ollokot Campground [including the Canal Rd (3920) and Lick Creek Road (3925)].

Airspace: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place for the Double Creek Fire (TFR 2/5592) to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations over the fire. The Sturgill Fire TFR (TFR 2/3189) was released on September 15 after the fire was placed in patrol status. Flight restrictions also apply to drones. Drones flying in areas of wildfire activity will cause firefighting aircraft to be grounded.  

 

Restrictions: Forest Order #06-16-00-22-04 covers Phase B Fire Restrictions for all National Forest System Lands within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, except for the area within a ¼ mile of the Snake River between Hells Canyon Dam, River Mile 247.5, downstream to the Oregon-Washington border at Snake River Mile 176.0, which is regulated by Forest Order #06-16-04-22-01. 

 

Fire Information 

Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM  

Phone: 541-216-4579 

Email: 2022.doublecreek@firenet.gov  

• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8366/  

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/doublecreekfire2022  

• YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/Double-Creek-Fire 

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!

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

Estimated Size: 23,970 acres             Completion: 87%            Personnel: 48

Highlights: Effective Friday, October 14, the phone numbers for the Complex will change. For fire-specific information and questions, please call 208-557-8813. For questions regarding the closure orders, please contact the Bonners Ferry Ranger District at 208-267-5561.

The trail closure for McGinty Ridge (No. 143) and Clifty Mountain and Clifty/Burrow (No. 182) trails has been lifted. However, please use caution if accessing this area as there is still some fire on the landscape, and you may encounter associated hazards. 

On Wednesday, 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. 

Fire remains on the landscape, but the threat is reduced from earlier in the season due to shorter days, lower temperatures, and higher humidity. Expect to see continued smoke until the snow falls or significant rain occurs. 

Operations: Pumps, hoses, sprinklers, and water tanks remain around many properties west of Westside Road the fire could still impact. Firefighters test these systems regularly to ensure they are working. The control lines continue to hold as the fire reaches them in some areas. Helicopters are still dropping water to slow fire spread where necessary. 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 show some activity. Both fires remain unstaffed, and firefighters continue to monitor them from the air and lookout points.

Weather: High pressure continues to dominate the weather through the weekend. However, an upper system tracking north and east of the fire will bring increased clouds Friday, with some clearing Saturday. Winds will be light, and terrain driven but will increase slightly on Saturday. Temperatures will remain around 70, with low relative humidity in the ’40s. 

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. Those living on the Westside Road closest to Ball Creek, Burton Creek, and Clark Creek are in READY fire pre-evacuation status. Residents of Boundary County, Idaho, can visit https://www.nixle.com or text their home zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts. 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!

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

Incident Command: Bonners Ferry District Type 3, Brian Hicks/Mitch Prophet(t) Incident Commanders  

Estimated Size: 23,666 acres               Completion: 85%                  Personnel: 52

Highlights: Higher wind speeds occurred across the fire area on Monday evening and into Tuesday due to a passing cold front. While the fires showed some growth, the control lines held. Currently, the most active fire behavior is in the Clark Creek, Farnham Creek, and Trout Creek drainages.

Fire remains on the landscape, but the threat is reduced from earlier in the season due to shorter days, lower temperatures, and higher humidity. Expect to see continued smoke until the snow falls or significant rain occurs. 

On Wednesday, a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team will begin assessing the 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. 

Operations: Pumps, hoses, sprinklers, and water tanks remain around many properties west of Westside Road the fire could still impact. Firefighters test these systems regularly to ensure they are working. Crews are moving some of the hoses, sprinklers, and pumps from areas with cold black to where the fire is backing down to the handlines between the Trout and Farnham Creek drainages. On the southern end along Westside Road, crews are cooling the fire’s edge as it comes down to the handline. Helicopters are still dropping water to slow fire spread where necessary. On Tuesday, these drops were done in the Trout Creek drainage. Rehabilitation work has begun 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 show some activity. Still, there was no significant growth during the storm passage Monday. Both fires remain unstaffed, and firefighters continue to monitor them from the air and lookout points.

Weather: On Wednesday, temperatures will rise to the high 60’s, and low 70’s as high pressure strengthens over North Idaho. Low relative humidity will be 33-39 percent Wednesday and Thursday. Winds will be light and terrain driven, with direction varying by aspect.

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 (No. 12), Russell Ridge (No. 92), Ball and Pyramid Lakes (No. 43), Pyramid Pass (No. 13), Pyramid Peak (No. 7), Fisher Peak (No. 27), Trout Lake (No. 41), McGinty Ridge (No. 143), Clifty Mountain and Clifty/Burrow (No. 182), Myrtle Peak Trail (No. 286), Burton Peak Trail (No. 9), Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (No. 221) and Long Canyon Trail (No. 16). View the closure order and map at https://tinyurl.com/BFClosure.

Evacuations: There are NO evacuations currently in place. Those living on the Westside Road closest to Ball Creek, Burton Creek, and Clark Creek are in READY fire pre-evacuation status. Residents of Boundary County, Idaho, can visit https://www.nixle.com or text their home zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts. 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!

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

Incident Command: Bonners Ferry District Type 3, Brian Hicks/Mitch Prophet(t) Incident Commanders  

Estimated Size: 23,131 acres                                   Completion: 85%                                                                                                                                    Personnel: 67

Highlights: Upcoming weather predictions show a minor disturbance pushing through the area Monday evening, followed by similar conditions to the past week. There could be increased fire activity, but no significant movement is expected. After this disturbance, fire managers will assess additional properties to remove sprinkler equipment and communicate with property owners. Fire remains on the landscape, but the threat is reduced from earlier in the season due to shorter days, lower temperatures, and higher humidity. Expect to see continued smoke until the snow falls or significant rain occurs. 

This week, a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team will start assessing the 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. 

Planned Actions: Pumps, hoses, sprinklers, and water tanks remain around many properties west of Westside Road that the fire could still impact. Firefighters test these systems regularly to ensure they are working. Crews continue strengthening firelines and cooling the fire's edge where they can access it. Helicopters are still dropping water to slow fire spread where necessary. These drops have been done in the Farnham Creek and Clark Creek areas for the past several days. Rehabilitation work has begun 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 show some activity. Both fires remain unstaffed, and firefighters continue to monitor them from the air and lookout points.

Weather: A dry cold front will pass over the fire Monday evening. Temperatures will be in the high 50’s Monday and Tuesday with low relative humidity’s of 30-51 percent. On Monday, winds will be south to southeast, 7-10 mph with gusts to 18 mph, switching to northwest to north winds on Tuesday, 4-8 mph with gusts to 16 mph.

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 (No. 12), Russell Ridge (No. 92), Ball and Pyramid Lakes (No. 43), Pyramid Pass (No. 13), Pyramid Peak (No. 7), Fisher Peak (No. 27), Trout Lake (No. 41), McGinty Ridge (No. 143), Clifty Mountain and Clifty/Burrow (No. 182), Myrtle Peak Trail (No. 286), Burton Peak Trail (No. 9), Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (No. 221) and Long Canyon Trail (No. 16). View the closure order and map at https://tinyurl.com/BFClosure.

Evacuations: There are NO evacuations currently in place. Those living on the Westside Road closest to Ball Creek, Burton Creek, and Clark Creek are in READY fire pre-evacuation status. Residents of Boundary County, Idaho, can visit https://www.nixle.com or text their home zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts. 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!

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

Incident Command: Bonners Ferry District Type 3, Brian Hicks/Mitch Prophet(t) Incident Commanders  

Estimated Size: 22,910 acres                Completion: 85%                    Personnel: 86

Highlights: The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the Katka Fire was removed on October 6. The TFR over the Russell Mountain Fire remains in place.  

The Forest Closure Order for FS Trails 182 and 143 remains in place, as does the closure around the main Complex that runs from Long Canyon Trail No. 16 on the north down to Cascade Creek Road No. 2411 on the south. These closures are for public and firefighter safety and will be reassessed throughout the duration of the fires and into winter and spring. Fire and post-fire hazards may remain, and the USFS will make notifications as status changes occur. View the closure order and map at https://tinyurl.com/BFClosure.

As anticipated, fire activity has picked up the last few days with warmer and drier conditions. A season-ending event has not yet occurred, and fire remains on the landscape. Expect to see continued smoke until the snow falls or significant rain occurs. Still, with decreased fire behavior, the threat is significantly reduced from earlier in the season.

Planned Actions: Fire personnel continue to check the fires from the air and ground. Pumps, hoses, sprinklers, and water tanks remain around properties on the west of Westside Road that could still be impacted. Crews will communicate with property owners as it becomes time to take this equipment down. Firefighters continue strengthening firelines, testing pumps and hoses still set up, and cooling the fire's edge where they can access it. Helicopters will drop water to cool the fire's edge if necessary. Rehabilitation work has begun 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 Fire has shown a slight uptick in fire behavior while the Katka Fire has shown little activity the past few days. Both fires remain unstaffed, and firefighters continue to monitor them from the air and lookout points.

Weather: Persistent high pressure will keep conditions unusually warm and dry. Through the weekend, temperatures will be in the 60’s and 70’s with low relative humidity in the 30’s. On Friday, winds will be north to northeast at 3-6 mph.

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 (No. 12), Russell Ridge (No. 92), Ball and Pyramid Lakes (No. 43), Pyramid Pass (No. 13), Pyramid Peak (No. 7), Fisher Peak (No. 27), Trout Lake (No. 41), McGinty Ridge (No. 143), Clifty Mountain and Clifty/Burrow (No. 182), Myrtle Peak Trail (No. 286), Burton Peak Trail (No. 9), Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (No. 221) and Long Canyon Trail (No. 16).

Evacuations: There are NO evacuations currently in place. Those living on the Westside Road closest to Ball Creek, Burton Creek, and Clark Creek are in READY fire pre-evacuation status. Residents of Boundary County, Idaho, can visit https://www.nixle.com or text their home zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts. 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!

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

Incident Command: Bonners Ferry District Type 3, Brian Hicks/Mitch Prophet(t) Incident Commanders  

Estimated Size: 22,787 acres                                   Completion: 85%                                                                                                                                    Personnel: 89

Highlights: In areas around properties where the threat is significantly reduced, like those with cold burned areas around them, crews will begin removing structure protection equipment like pumps, hoses, and sprinklers. Crews will communicate with property owners as this occurs. Fire activity is reduced due to shorter days, lower temperatures, and higher daytime humidity. However, a season-ending event has not yet occurred, and fire remains on the landscape. Expect to see continued smoke until the snow falls or significant rain occurs. Still, with decreased fire behavior, the threat is much less than it was earlier in the season. Equipment will remain around properties that could still be impacted. Firefighters will stay in the area and continue strengthening firelines, testing pumps and hoses still set up, and cooling the fire's edge where they can access it.

With hunting season approaching, the public should know that USFS Bonners Ferry Ranger District closures remain in place (https://tinyurl.com/BFClosure). The main fire's closure area runs from Long Canyon Trail No. 16 north of the Complex to Cascade Creek Road No. 2411 on the south. Trail No. 's 182 and 143 remain closed for the Katka Fire. These closures are for public and firefighter safety and will be assessed throughout the duration of the fires and into winter and spring. Fire and post-fire hazards may remain, and the USFS will make notifications as status changes occur.

Planned Actions: As expected, there was a slight increase in fire activity on Tuesday due to the warmer and drier weather. Fire managers continue to check all areas of the fire. They will use helicopters to drop water to cool the fire's edge where needed. A fuel break along the dozer line on Clark Creek has been completed. Water bars have been added to the Ball Creek and Clark Creek handlines to prevent erosion. Firefighters are gridding to check for and cool the remaining heat in areas where the fire has burned to the control line. Crews continue to check the firelines and test pumps and sprinkler systems. The Long Canyon and Katka fires show a slight uptick in fire behavior but are not causing concern. They remain unstaffed, and firefighters continue to monitor them from the air and lookout points.

Weather: The upper ridge causing warmer and drier temperatures will remain through the weekend. Temperatures will be in the upper 60’s and low relative humidity will drop to 39-41% the next few days. On Wednesday, winds will be southeast at 1-3 mph with gusts to 10 mph, and on Thursday north winds will switch to east in the afternoon at 2-5 mph.

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 (No. 12), Russell Ridge (No. 92), Ball and Pyramid Lakes (No. 43), Pyramid Pass (No. 13), Pyramid Peak (No. 7), Fisher Peak (No. 27), Trout Lake (No. 41), McGinty Ridge (No. 143), Clifty Mountain and Clifty/Burrow (No. 182), Myrtle Peak Trail (No. 286), Burton Peak Trail (No. 9), Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (No. 221) and Long Canyon Trail (No. 16).

Evacuations: There are NO evacuations currently in place. Those living on the Westside Road closest to Ball Creek, Burton Creek, and Clark Creek are in READY fire pre-evacuation status. Residents of Boundary County, Idaho, can visit https://www.nixle.com or text their home zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts. To learn more about READY SET GO, visit https://bit.ly/3wi0jMu.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR): There are TFRs in place for air space over the Katka Fire (2-2384) and 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!