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Trapper Peak was ablaze 50 years ago |
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August 16, 2017 |
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It was a hot, dry August 11 in 1967 when a
violent thunderstorm roared across the
Northwest, a storm full of crackling lightning,
rolling thunder, and no rain in sight. By August
12, three fires had broken out on Trapper Peak
in Boundary County, and plumes of smoke marked
the beginning of fires that would consume the
tinder dry forest floor vegetation, and spread
into the towering trees.
Once the three fires merged, in rough, granitic
terrain, a six or seven hours hike from the
nearest road, what has come to be known as the
Trapper Peak Fire took off with fury.
With fires burning all over the west,
helicopters were scarce to come by, and the
terrain made it difficult to get firefighters
and supplies into the rugged area. Strong winds
generated by both the storm and the fires
themselves added to the difficulty of accessing
the area, and the speed with which the fire
devoured the forest.
By the 15th of August, the raging fire had grown
to 400 acres with a crew of 300 battling the
blaze. August 20 dawned with the Trapper Peak
Fire burning out of control. By now it had grown
to 3,400 acres and reportedly 900 firefighters
were on the fire lines.
Three days later, 1,000 firefighters were
battling under a “red flag alert” on the now
5,500 acre blaze.
Bulldozers were brought in as 12 foot wide fire
lines were carved ahead of the fire in an effort
to stop its advance. However, rising southwest
winds blew flames and sparks across the fire
line into tinder dry under growth, and off it
raged again.
The fire was “crowning” or “topping out” at this
point, leaping from tree top to tree top.
Crews trained at the Smoke Jumper Center in
Missoula were brought in to join the now 1,700
men trying to stop the Trapper Peak Fire with
its impossible terrain. Both the U.S. Forest
Service and Idaho Department of Lands, along
with local fire departments and citizens of the
county fought this massive fire until it was
finally brought under control in September.
On August 12, fires were discovered on Sundance
Mountain in Bonner County. Crews battled the
blazes and had them extinguished by August 15.
However, this fire does not end here, and will
be the topic of next week’s fire story.
The Boundary County Historical Society and
Museum will be hosting a commemorative program
of the 50th Anniversary of the Trapper Peak and
Sundance Fires at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 26.
This is one you simply do not want to miss. Day
by day photos of both fires, and interviews with
local folks will be just part of the program.
Come join us! |
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