Lightning sparks several North Idaho wildfires

July 21, 2017

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests had multiple new fires detected following the Thursday night lightning storm. Here is an update on fire activity across the forest:   * The Trestle Peak Fire, on the Sandpoint Ranger District, is located east of Sandpoint on Trestle Ridge, and is approximately 40 acres. It is burning in heavy subalpine fir. Fire behavior has been predominantly torching and short-range spotting. Resources include three Type 2 initial attack crews, 10 smokejumpers, two Forest Service engines with crews, a contract water tender, and an additional 15 local firefighters. Retardant drops and air attack have successfully limited fire spread despite the wind.   * The Rattle Creek Fire, also located on the Sandpoint Ranger District, is currently at .7 acres and being staffed by smokejumpers who are making good progress. The smokejumpers are expected to fully contain the fire tonight.   * Four small fires (Taffy Creek, Strawberry Creek, Lightning Creek, and Wylie) located on the Sandpoint Ranger District have been successfully controlled.   * The Reeder Mountain Fire located eight miles north of Nordman on the northeast side of Reeder Mountain, on the Priest Lake Ranger District, is approximately 8 acres. The fire is burning on a steep rocky slope. Due to the steep slopes and terrain, engines are not able to access the fire. Air resources and smokejumpers are deployed to the fire, with additional resources on order.   * The Nickel Fire, also located on the Priest Lake Ranger District, on the southeast side of Nickel Plate Mountain, was contained at 1/10 acre fire with the support of helicopter bucket drops.   * The Muskegon and Muskegon 2 Fires are both located north of Granite Pass, near Muskegon Lake. Crews are hiking into and will be on scene tonight.   * The North Fork Hughes Fire is located just north of Hughes Meadows on the Priest Lake Ranger District, just across the Washington State line. A lightning storm on June 28 sparked the fire and it smoldered for a few days before firefighters located it on July 4. The fire is about 70 acres and is being actively managed.   * Small fires contained on the Priest Lake Ranger District include the Little Granite Fire at 1/10 of an acre, Lakeview Mountain Fire at 1/2 an acre, and the Deerhorn Fire at 1/10 an acre.   * The Beaver Creek Fire, on the Coeur d’Alene River District, is contained at 15 acres, and crews are mopping up the area Lightning is notorious in this area for causing “holdover” fires that can appear many days later. We are doing everything we can to suppress these fires as quickly, efficiently and, most importantly, as safely as possible.