Firefighters are beginning to achieve significant perimeter containment on the fire. At last report, it is at 27% containment. Crews have continued building line and putting out hot spots along the north and northeast flanks of the fire near Long Canyon Ridge and made progress building line and mopping up along the south flank of the fire near Parker Creek with assistance from helicopter drops.
Progress on the eastern half of the fire
Fortunately, the areas of the fire on the east, Kootenai Valley side of the West Side Road are coming under control. "Other than a smoldering peat bog in a drainage ditch, the part of the fire east of the Westside Road has been mopped up," said Kris Reichenbach, Public Information Officer for the U.S. Forest Service.
And in the mountains on the west . . .
Fire crews have been seeking and extinguishing hot spots near Long Canyon Ridge and Parker Creek. Aerial and ground resources continue to scout the area to identify opportunities to engage the fire, while felling operations continue to remove hazard trees.
At last report, 87 firefighters were involved in controlling the fire, including a newer crew of 20 recently arrived from Fairbanks, Alaska. At times, heavy smoke conditions have limited air drops at the fire.
Current status of Evacuation Alerts
Evacuation alert for residents in the area has been reduced from Stage II alert status to Stage I status. Stage I status means "Get Ready." According to Forest Service officials, in a Stage I Evacuation Alert, area residents should be ready, made aware of the increased risk, and are asked to monitor emergency services. Residents should prepare and if needed, take early precautionary movement to relocate, especially those with special needs, pets, livestock or those needing transportation assistance.
Note that the higher level Stage II Evacuation Alert indicates a significant danger exists, and that residents should voluntarily relocate.
Stage II fire restrictions remain in force
Overall, our entire county-wide area and much of the Idaho Panhandle continues with specific fire restrictions. As a reminder, we are currently under Stage II Fire Restrictions. With Stage II Fire Restrictions, all of the following is prohibited until further notice:
1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire.
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated smoking site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
3. Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails in accordance with existing travel management plans for non-commercial purposes including ATVs, UTVs, and pickups.
4. The following acts are prohibited from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. A patrol is required for one hour following cessation of all work as described in a, b, and c below:
a. Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine for felling, bucking, skidding, processing, road building, woodcutting or any other off-road activity during industrial operations.
b. Blasting, welding, or other activities that generate flame or flammable material.
c. Using an explosive
And
just to keep everyone up to date on the ongoing
serious nature of fire risks in our area, the
local Fire Danger Rating is "Extreme," according
to the Smokey Bear sign at the local Forest
Service office. National Wildfire Preparedness is at the Highest Level (PL 5), which indicates that fires will start easily, spread rapidly, quickly increase in intensity and can be very difficult to control.
Smoke having a significant impact on our air quality; some BFHS sports events already canceled
Air quality in our area and in the entire Inland Northwest area remains smoky and potentially harmful. According to the real-time air monitoring data for the Bonners Ferry area, operated by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, the Air Quality Index Value stands at 161 as of 9:00 a.m. this morning, which is in the "Unhealthy" range. This index measures the very small particles in the air, which are the most dangerous of the particles that might affect a person's lungs. Index values of 101 to 150 signal that members of sensitive groups (such as those with lung diseases) may experience health effects from particulates in the air. However, with an Air Quality Index of 151 to 200 (remember our Index today stands at 161) means that everyone may begin to experience health effects, and that those groups who are more sensitive may have more serious health effects.
Many outdoor public gatherings throughout the Inland Northwest have been canceled or moved because of the dangerous air quality. For example, many schools have either canceled sports practice sessions, or moved them indoors. Sandpoint High School has rescheduled their Friday football game to Saturday, which will be played indoor at the University of Idaho's Kibbie Dome, in an effort to play in a better air quality environment.
Conrad Garner, Bonners Ferry High School Dean of Students and Athletic Director, has announced that the BFHS Boys' soccer game, scheduled for today at Lakeland, has been canceled due to poor air quality related to smoke from regional forest wildfires. In a later statement, he also announced the cancellation of today's BFHS JV football game, which had been scheduled for play at Priest River.
Tomorrow's soccer games, which include the BFHS Girls' game scheduled to be played in Bonners Ferry against St. Maries, and the Boys' game at Orofino are being evaluated closely and are also at risk of being canceled.
Tomorrow's BFHS home football game vs Priest River, scheduled to be played tomorrow evening, is also being evaluated and could potentially be cancelled.
NewsBF is continuing to monitor these scheduled BFHS sports activities, and will publish notifications as soon as we receive word of the status of those games that are still being evaluated.