Sunday, September 11, 2022 

Boulder Mountain Fire Information 509-508-3389 (8am-8pm) | 2022.bouldermountain@firenet.gov 

Quick Facts

Fire Location: 9 miles NW of Cusick, WA in Tacoma Creek and Boulder Mtn.

Size: 2,076 acres

Containment: 10%

Start Date: 8/31/22

Cause: Under Investigation

Incident Commander: Mike Johnston, Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team #7

Personnel: 517

Online Links

InciWeb:

inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8382/ 

Facebook:

@NeWFireInfo 

Washington State Department of Natural Resources:

www.dnr.wa.gov/wildfires 

Colville 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 8:30 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: Expect a “lazy smoke” day today with the continued stale inversion and temperatures similar to yesterday. Poor air quality will continue before improving in the beginning of the work week. Monday will bring a drop to more seasonal temperatures and increase relative humidity. Winds are expected to shift again today and are expected to be from the west to southwest. 

Actions: Saturday’s weather allowed the firefighters to conduct a successful small scale burning operation. These firing operations are a process where crews intentionally ignite fuels in specific areas to make the fire more manageable and safer as firefighter efforts move from line construction to mop up. Dozer and hand line work continues around the area of fire spread from Thursday’s wind event. Several edges of the fire are carrying heat, but a lot of progress has occurred in tamping these areas down. Hose lays are in place and crews are utilizing these hose lays to target hot spots, cooling the edge allowing further mop up of the interior. 

Today expect moderate fire activity as the fire continues to consume the patches of unburned fuel inside the perimeter. The south and southwest winds direction will push the fire back onto itself, helping with interior consumption. With hand and dozer line in place around the majority of the fire, the winds shouldn’t result in dramatic growth.  Progress is evident from the crew’s efforts with hose lay and mop up and we anticipate an increase in further containment this evening.  

Important Information:  As we reflect on the tragedy from the events of 9/11 take a moment to thank the first responders. We too, want to thank all the communities and the local residents for the support and assistance they provide as responders work in their neighborhoods to keep them safe. The goal each day continues to be, everyone returning home safely.

Saturday, September 10, 2022 

Boulder Mountain Fire Information 509-508-3389 (8am-8pm) | 2022.bouldermountain@firenet.gov 

Quick Facts

Fire Location

9 miles NW of Cusick, WA in Tacoma Creek and Boulder Mtn.

Size

1,900 acres

Containment

8%

Start Date

8/31/22

Cause

Under Investigation

Incident Commander

Mike Johnston, Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team #7

Personnel

496

Online Links

InciWeb:

inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8382/ 

Facebook:

Washington State Department of Natural Resources:

www.dnr.wa.gov/wildfires 

Colville National Forest

www.fs.usda.gov/colville

Summary: The Boulder Mountain Fire was detected on Wednesday August 31st, 2022, at approximately 8:30 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: Relatively calm winds, out of east will be over the fire today. A dry air mass will move in over the weekend, lowering humidity and raising temperatures. All these factors will aid in the consumption of fuels without a great deal of expansion. As fuels consume slowly or burn down it greatly reduces spotting potential helping the firefighters in the long run. 

Actions: Friday was a productive and busy day. Fire behavior continued to be impacted by winds. The wind direction shifting yet again from the east prompting additional spot fires. Crews and aerial resources were able to stay on top of these spots. Breezy, dry conditions continued overnight promoting growth in the far southwest corners of the fire. Dozer and hand line work progressed, and fire containment bumped up to 8% as mop up efforts continued. 

Today the plan is to take advantage of the decreased winds and encourage fuel consumption inside the fire perimeter. Crews and Dozers will continue to implement control lines in the new growth area. In the north, aided by hose lays and water, resources will be mopping up and building depth to dozer and hand line. Aviation resources will be assisting in cooling down any potential spots or active areas so ground personnel can safely engage the fire’s edge. 

Important Information:  As we roll into the weekend, please remember to steer clear of the fire area. The Colville National Forest has a road and area closure in place for all National Forest System lands in the immediate area, please visit the Colville NF website or visit InciWeb for a link to the closure order and map. When un-expected vehicles are on the roadway this further increases the risk to our responders working on the Boulder Mountain fire.

Friday, September 9, 2022 

Boulder Mountain Fire Information 509-508-3389 (8am-8pm) | 2022.bouldermountain@firenet.gov 

Quick Facts

Fire Location: 9 miles NW of Cusick, WA in Tacoma Creek and Boulder Mtn.

Size: 1,753 acres

Containment: 4% (down 2%)

Start Date: 8/31/22

Cause: Under Investigation

Incident Commander: Mike Johnston, Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team #7

Personnel: 470

Online Links

InciWeb:

inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8382/ 

Facebook:

@NeWFireInfo 

Washington State Department of Natural Resources:

www.dnr.wa.gov/wildfires 

Colville National Forest

 www.fs.usda.gov/colville

Summary: The Boulder Mountain Fire was detected on Wednesday August 31st, 2022, at approximately 8:30 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: Winds overnight remained steady from the north and northwest. The relative humidity will increase for today with steady winds continuing. Another wind shift is expected with winds from the northeast to east today. Smoky conditions in the area are likely again with transport winds bringing smoke from other fires in northern Idaho. 

Actions: The increase in acreage on the south of the fire was a result of the anticipated north and northwest wind. Responders worked via ground and air to hold the fire inside the dozer line and forest road 629. The fire spread to areas in and around Calispell peak. The north and east perimeter lines saw activity within the fires perimeter as previously unburned fuels were consumed. 

Resources in the northern parts of the fire will continue to strengthen hand and dozer line by mopping up, aided by hose lays along the edge. Where there was new growth yesterday resources will be assessing where the new perimeter is and how to best contain it moving forward. 

Since the initial stages of The Boulder Mountain Fire, numerous plans have been developed. Often the tactics on the ground are a combination of many plans put together. Though the majority of plans involve direct and indirect attack, they also include contingency plans that could include various road systems and large geographic features that may be capable of holding the fire should it grow. This style of planning allows for quick adaptation in response to changing factors, be it wind, fire behavior, or staffing. 

 Important Information:  Over the last few days most resources have been moved to “spike camps” or small, remote camps closer to the fire that are supported by the main incident command post, located at the Kalispel Pow Wow Grounds. This mean that there will be less traffic on the surrounding roadways but please be sure there are still hundreds of firefighters working hard to contain the Bolder Mountain fire.

Though the overall containment percentage did decrease by 2%, it is important to note, that is due to the increase in perimeter size and the area that was contained remains in place.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/pocsheriff

BOULDER MOUNTAIN FIRE EVACUATION UPDATE! Evacuation level has been changed from Level 3 to Level 1 for residences in the area of evacuation for the Boulder Mountain Fire. Residents can now return to their homes, but please stay aware and alert. Please be aware that roads are still closed to the public and we ask all others to please avoid this area.

Thursday, September 8, 2022 

Boulder Mountain Fire Information 509-508-3389 (8am-8pm) | 2022.bouldermountain@firenet.gov 

Quick Facts

Fire Location

9 miles NW of Cusick, WA in Tacoma Creek and Boulder Mtn.

Size

1,328 acres

Containment

6%

Start Date

8/31/22

Cause

Under Investigation

Incident Commander

Mike Johnston, Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team #7

Personnel

458

Online Links

InciWeb:

inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8382/ 

Facebook:

Washington State Department of Natural Resources:

www.dnr.wa.gov/wildfires 

Colville National Forest

www.fs.usda.gov/colville

Summary: The Boulder Mountain Fire was detected on Wednesday August 31st, 2022, at approximately 8:30 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: Shifting winds will continue through Today. Continued dry weather and higher than normal temperatures remain in the forecast.  Fire managers are paying close attention to the shifts in wind direction. If winds align with the terrain and unburned pockets of timber, there is a strong possibility of very active fire behavior with the potential for spot fires away from the main fire footprint. Smokey conditions in the area are likely. 

Actions: Yesterday, work continued establishing both hand and mechanical containment lines. Firefighters are making progress; the fire is now 6% contained. With additional crews in place, the plan is to continue securing the line by mopping up the edge and increasing the depth of “cold black.” This involves seeking out pockets of heat and putting them out, which will manifest in an increased containment percentage.  Air support was again instrumental in helping firefighters to quickly contain spot fires pushed by the wind.

The plans today, are to continue the progress of the last few days. With hose lines being positioned where ground resources will be able to target creeping and smoldering activity around the edge. Wind conditions could potentially impact both the responder’s efforts and fire behavior. 

Important Information:   The Colville National Forest, Boulder Mountain Fire Closure is now in effect. This closure is to protect the health and safety of the responders and public in and around the Boulder Mountain Fire area. Click the links for more information:

Forest Closure

Closure Map

Boulder Mountain Fire Closure
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY CLOSURE AREA DESCRIPTION: All National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the following boundary: Starting in T33N R43E S9 at the SE corner of the section follow the private land boundary north to County Road 2341 (Sicily). Follow County Road 2341 to NFS Road 3116500. Follow NFS Road 3116500 to County Road 2373 (Calicoma). Follow County Road 2373 (Calicoma) to County Road 2389 (Tacoma Creek). Follow County Road 2389 (Tacoma Creek) northwest to the District Boundary. Follow the District Boundary south to NFS Road 2615000. Follow NFS Road 2615000 south to NFS Road 9521000. Follow NFS Road 9521000 to NFS Road 9521160. Follow NFS Road 9521160 to the NW section line in T33N R42E S6. Follow the section line in T33N R42E S6 south to the SW corner of T33N R42E S7. Follow the southern section lines in T33N R42E Sections 7,8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, and T33N R43E Sections 7, 8, and 9 east to the beginning. Closed Trails: Batey Bould Trail #306 Batey Bould Trail #307 Batey Bould Trail #308 Batey Bould Trail #309 Batey Bould Trail #310 Batey Bould Trail #311 Batey Bould Trail #312 Closed Roads: NFS Road 2600350 NFS Road 2615445 NFS Road 2615448 NFS Road 2615500 NFS Road 2600629 NFS Road 2600640 NFS Road 3116000 NFS Road 3116015 NFS Road 3116073 NFS Road 3116117 NFS Road 3116300 NFS Road 3116301 NFS Road 3116500 NFS Road 9517464 NFS Road 9517465 NFS Road 9517466 NFS Road 9517500 NFS Road 9521000 NFS Road 9521045 NFS Road 9521160 NFS Road 9521175 NFS Road 9521176 NFS Road 9521177 NFS Road 9521178 NFS Road 9521179 NFS Road 9521185 NFS Road 9521186 NFS Road 9521187 NFS Road 9521190 NFS Road 9521193 NFS Road 9521195 NFS Road 9521198 NFS Road 9521260 NFS Road 9521285 NFS Road 9521290 NFS Road 9521295 NFS Road 9521300 To see the complete closure order please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/colville/alerts-notices

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Boulder Mountain Fire Information 509-508-3389 (8am-8pm) | 2022.bouldermountain@firenet.gov 

Quick Facts

Fire Location

9 miles NW of Cusick, WA in Tacoma Creek and Boulder Mtn.

Size

1,289 acres

Containment

0%

Start Date

8/31/22

Cause

Under Investigation

Incident Commander

Mike Johnston, Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team #7

Personnel

319

Online Links

InciWeb:

 inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8382/ 

Facebook:

@NeWFireInfo 

Washington State Department of Natural Resources:

www.dnr.wa.gov/wildfires 

Colville National Forest

www.fs.usda.gov/colville

Summary: The Boulder Mountain Fire was detected on Wednesday August 31st, 2022, at approximately 8:30 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: A Red Flag warning is in effect today. A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now…or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Winds over the next few days will likely shift frequently, varying direction, and speed. They are expected to be steady 15-20mph with gusts between 30-35mph. If winds align with the terrain and unburned pockets of timber, there is a strong possibility of very active fire behavior. 

Actions: Yesterday’s primary efforts were directed toward improving and establishing containment lines, especially on the southern perimeter of the fire. With the anticipated Red Flag conditions and directional wind changes the crews concentrated on securing areas with the goal of minimizing any growth to the fire. On the ground, numerous pieces of large equipment, including dozers, masticators, and chippers are teaming with hand crews and aided by water drops to slow the fire’s spread. 

Today all eyes will be on the wind and safety of our responders. Large sections of hose lines will be laid with the intent of targeting the edge of direct hand and dozer line. 

 Important Information: Red Flag warnings should not be taken lightly. Please be cautious in using fuel, securing loads and towing, and not parking hot vehicles on grass.  Please think twice before using equipment that could potentially spark a wildfire. 

Additionally, as resources have been available to fly over the fire area with IR (infrared imagery) the perimeter of the fire has been more accurately mapped allowing the incident management team to identify a more precise acreage.

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Boulder Mountain Fire Information 509-508-3389 (8am-8pm) | 2022.bouldermountain@firenet.gov

Quick Facts

Fire Location

9 miles NW of Cusick, WA in Tacoma Creek and Boulder Mtn.

Size

1,241 Acres

Containment

0%

Start Date

8/31/22

Cause

Under Investigation

Incident Commander

Mike Johnston, Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team #7

Personnel

275

Online Links

Inciweb:

inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8382/ 

Facebook:

@NeWFireInfo 

Washington State Department of Natural Resources:

www.dnr.wa.gov/wildfires 

Colville National Forest

www.fs.usda.gov/colville

Summary: The Boulder Mountain Fire was detected on Wednesday August 31st, 2022, at approximately 8:30 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: The Forecast for the next few days calls for warming and drying in the region, resulting in lower relative humidity and drier fuels. Winds are expected to be light and terrain driven increasing as cold front is expected to arrive Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. 

Actions: Yesterday the fire was active with spotting and single and group tree torching observed. To the north and east, spot fires were detected away from the main body of the fire. These spots were detected early and resources were able to stay on top of them.  Labor Day efforts resulted in continued progress on hand and mechanical containment lines.  Hand crews engaged the fire as direct as possible, as helicopters and scoopers dropped water on the fire to aid in the fire suppression efforts.  Dozers and other heavy equipment are being used to construct line which will be tied into existing roads around the fire perimeter.  FS649 and FS9521 are being utilized as fire breaks with resources positioned in the event that fire spots across the road. 

The focus for Tuesday includes going as direct as possible with crews to keep the fire's growth to a minimum. Utilizing large equipment teamed with hand crews and employing air resources for support as they focus on building solid containment lines.   

Important Information: Over the next several days, the number of resources responding to the Boulder Mountain Fire is increasing. More vehicles and personnel will be in the local communities.  Recognizing that many may be unfamiliar with the area, the safety of firefighters and the public is always a concern. The Incident Management Team appreciates the community’s patience and understanding as we all work toward suppression of the fire.

Please continue to check the following sites for updated evacuation notices and campground closures. For campgrounds you can go to dnr.wa.gov and find up to date evacuation notices at:https://bit.ly/3KR6xJe

Boulder Mountain Fire Information 509-508-3389 (8am-8pm) | 2022.bouldermountain@firenet.gov

Quick Facts

Fire Location

9 miles NW of Cusick, WA in Tacoma Creek and Boulder Mtn.

Size

1210 Acres

Containment

0%

Start Date

8/31/22

Cause

Under Investigation

Incident Commander

Mike Johnston, Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team #7

Personnel

191

Online Links

Inciweb:

inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8382/ 

Facebook:

@NeWFireInfo 

Washington State Department of Natural Resources:

www.dnr.wa.gov/wildfires 

Colville National Forest