Single Publication

Updates on the Kootenai River Complex will be provided with less frequency or as operations change.

Estimated Size: 23,970 acres             Completion: 87%            Personnel: 48

Highlights: Effective Friday, October 14, the phone numbers for the Complex will change. For fire-specific information and questions, please call 208-557-8813. For questions regarding the closure orders, please contact the Bonners Ferry Ranger District at 208-267-5561.

The trail closure for McGinty Ridge (No. 143) and Clifty Mountain and Clifty/Burrow (No. 182) trails has been lifted. However, please use caution if accessing this area as there is still some fire on the landscape, and you may encounter associated hazards. 

On Wednesday, a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team began assessing the main Complex burned area to determine post-fire recovery needs. The BAER team looks at water and soil impacts, erosion potential, vegetation issues, archaeology, and more, to decide what needs to be done to help the forests recover. 

Fire remains on the landscape, but the threat is reduced from earlier in the season due to shorter days, lower temperatures, and higher humidity. Expect to see continued smoke until the snow falls or significant rain occurs. 

Operations: Pumps, hoses, sprinklers, and water tanks remain around many properties west of Westside Road the fire could still impact. Firefighters test these systems regularly to ensure they are working. The control lines continue to hold as the fire reaches them in some areas. Helicopters are still dropping water to slow fire spread where necessary. Rehabilitation work continues on some equipment lines, including reseeding, installing water bars for erosion control, and using an excavator to pull the lines back in places. Crews are working with homeowners for those that want to leave the line in place on their property. The Long Canyon and Katka fires continue to show some activity. Both fires remain unstaffed, and firefighters continue to monitor them from the air and lookout points.

Weather: High pressure continues to dominate the weather through the weekend. However, an upper system tracking north and east of the fire will bring increased clouds Friday, with some clearing Saturday. Winds will be light, and terrain driven but will increase slightly on Saturday. Temperatures will remain around 70, with low relative humidity in the ’40s. 

Closures: The following National Forest Trails and Roads are closed: Ball Creek Road (FR 432), Trout Creek Road (FR 634), Cascade Creek Road (FS 2411), Russell Mountain Trail (No. 12), Russell Ridge Trail (No. 92), Ball and Pyramid Lakes Trail (No. 43), Pyramid Pass Trail (No. 13), Pyramid Peak Trail (No. 7), Fisher Peak Trail (No. 27), Trout Lake Trail (No. 41), Myrtle Peak Trail (No. 286), Burton Peak Trail (No. 9), Parker Ridge Trail (No. 221) and Long Canyon Trail (No. 16).

Evacuations: There are NO evacuations currently in place. Those living on the Westside Road closest to Ball Creek, Burton Creek, and Clark Creek are in READY fire pre-evacuation status. Residents of Boundary County, Idaho, can visit https://www.nixle.com or text their home zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts. To learn more about READY SET GO, visit https://bit.ly/3wi0jMu.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR): There is a TFR in place for air space over the Russell Mountain Fire (2-5373) for aviation safety. Remember that temporary flight restrictions apply to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones. If you fly, we can't!