Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Single Publication

Zoom to your location
Reset map zoom and position

Could not determine your location.

Kootenai River Complex

Share this incident

Unit Information

3232 West Nursery Road 
Coeur d'Alene, 
Idaho 
83814 
3232 West Nursery Road 
Coeur d'Alene, 
Idaho 
83814 

Incident Contacts

  • IPNF Fire Information Line
    Phone:
    208-557-8813
  • Kootenai River Complex Fire Information Line
    Phone:
    208-202-5021
    Hours:
    Monday - Sunday 7am to 9pm
  • Bonners Ferry Ranger District - Closure Info
    Phone:
    208-267-5561
    Hours:
    Monday - Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm

Kootenai River Complex Fact Sheet - Oct. 21-23

Kootenai River Complex
Publication Type: News 10/21/2022

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

Estimated Size: 25,402 acres          Completion: 87%          Personnel: 54

Highlights: The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place for air space over the Russell Mountain Fire (2-5373) is lifted as of Saturday, October 22, at 8:00 a.m.

The Forest Service closure orders around the Complex include off-trail and off-road land in addition to specified roads and trails. Please avoid all areas within the closures for your safety due to active fire and other associated hazards. 

This weekend, a weather pattern change is expected, bringing rain, snow, and much cooler temperatures, which will significantly slow and stop the fires. Fire management actions are reflective of the current conditions and predicted weather. 

Operations: In anticipation of the weather shift, firefighters have removed pumps, hoses, sprinklers, and water tanks that are no longer needed before conditions make it difficult to do so. Fire managers have been communicating with landowners as this takes place. As weather permits, the remainder of this equipment will be removed in the coming days. Crews will continue to monitor and cool the fire’s edge, and the control lines are holding where the fire has slowly backed down to it. The structure wrap previously installed around the Burton Peak Lookout to protect it from the fire was removed and flown out by helicopter on Thursday. 

Rehabilitation work continues on control lines, including reseeding, installing water bars for erosion control, and pulling lines back in. Crews are working with homeowners for those that want to leave the line in place on their property. 

The Long Canyon and Katka fires remain unstaffed, and firefighters continue to monitor them from the air and lookout points.

Weather: A major pattern change will begin Friday as the first of many wet systems move into the region. The next week will feature multiple periods of rain, mountain snow, breezy winds, and much cooler temperatures. Snow levels will lower to around 3500 to 4000 feet Friday and Saturday, and to near 3000 feet Saturday night into Sunday  morning. A wetting rain is likely for the fire with near a half inch of precipitation forecast from Friday through the weekend. Winds will be south-southwest and breezy through Friday evening.  

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 and all pre-evacuation status’ have been removed. To learn more about READY SET GO, visit https://bit.ly/3wi0jMu.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR): There are no TFRs in place as of Saturday, October 21 at 8:00 a.m.