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August 14 Parker Ridge Fire: well over
1,000 acres, crews working in advance to protect
property and structures
Largest fire
currently burning in the Panhandle National
Forest |
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August 14, 2015 |
 The
Parker Ridge Fire in northwestern Boundary
County has continued to spread in a
northeasterly direction, toward private property
and structures in that direction.
Helicopters have dropped water on that area of
the fire, and the Helena Hotshots have cleared
brush and anchored a fire line at a residence
along Westside Road, along with additional work
to protect private properties. Helicopter
reconnaissance flights continue while ground
crews prepare homes in the area, install
sprinkler systems, and conduct defensive actions
for Westside Road properties.
Protecting structures and private timber is a
high priority for the firefighting team.
The Parker Ridge Fire is the largest fire
currently burning on the Idaho Panhandle
National Forest. Using infrared fly-over
equipment and other methods, fire officials are
estimating the size of the fire at 1,200 acres
as of yesterday morning, August 13. Containment
remains at 0%.
(Story continues below this map)
To see a larger version of this map, click on
the map.
There are 76 firefighters assigned to the Parker
Ridge Fire, a significant increase in personnel
at this fire in spite of firefighting resources
being severely stretched with many wildfires in
Idaho and in many other western states.
For example, a lightning storm that moved
through north Idaho Monday night resulted in at
least 35 new fires across north Idaho. The
majority of these new fires are located on the
St. Joe and Coeur d’Alene River Ranger
Districts.
The largest of these is the Lawyer Complex Fire.
This complex is made up of 21 fires and is
approximately 2,000 acres between Kamiah and
Orofino. It started during Monday's lightning
storm (August 10) at about 5:30 p.m. Bob Fry’s
Northern Rockies Type 2 Incident Management Team
has been assigned to work this fire and is
concentrating on the main section of the
Complex. Greg Poncin’s Type 1 Incident
Management Team out of Northwest Montana is
assisting with the portion of the complex on the
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. There are
currently 300 personnel working on the fire
complex.
Due to these north Idaho fires being lightning
caused, most are located high on ridge tops and
none pose any imminent threat to structures.
Nearly every wildland firefighter in north Idaho
is currently engaged in attacking at least one
of the fires, and additional firefighting
resources have been requested from neighboring
areas.
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