Single Publication

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

Incident Command: Bonners Ferry District Type 3, Brian Hicks/Mitch Prophet(t) Incident Commanders  

Estimated Size: 22,559 acres                                   Completion: 85%                                                                                                                                    Personnel: 91

Highlights: An Open House will be held on Tuesday, October 4, from 5-7 pm at the barn at the Kootenai Wildlife Refuge. There will not be a formal presentation. People are welcome to stop by any time between 5 and 7 pm, look at maps and talk to representatives from the fire management team, the Bonners Ferry Ranger District, and local government. 

This time of year, fire activity is significantly reduced due to shorter days, lower temperatures, and higher daytime humidity. However, a season-ending event has not yet occurred, and fire remains on the landscape. Expect to see continued smoke until the snow falls or significant rain occurs. Still, with decreased fire behavior, the threat is much less than it was earlier in the season. In areas around properties where the threat is significantly reduced, like those with cold burned areas around them, crews are assessing where structure protection equipment like pumps and hoses can be taken down. Equipment will remain around properties that could still be impacted. Firefighters will stay in the area and continue strengthening firelines, testing pumps and hoses still set up, and cooling the fire's edge where they can access it. 

There are still lots of firefighting crews and equipment on Westside Road. Please avoid traveling there if you are not a resident and do not need to access this area. For those driving this road, please slow down and be careful of firefighters for their safety and yours. 

Planned Actions: The Long Canyon and Katka fires are showing minimal fire behavior and remain unstaffed. Firefighters continue to monitor them from the air and lookout points. Crews are working on a fuel break from Farnham Creek to Trout Creek to strengthen the existing heavy equipment line. Handline has been completed where firefighters were connecting the dozer line. On Sunday, a helicopter dropped water on the southern end of the Russell Mountain Fire to keep the fire's edge in check. Crews continue to work on the fireline in that area. Suppression repair work has been completed on contingency lines that are no longer needed. 

Weather: Temperatures remain in the low 60's to mid-'70s in the mountains over the next several days. Low relative humidity will drop to 35-50% during the days. On Monday, winds will be south to southwest at 3-5 mph, and on Tuesday, south to southeast at 3-5 mph. These weather conditions could cause increased fire behavior in areas still holding heat. 

Closures: Long Canyon Trail (No. 16) is now closed. The following National Forest Trails and Roads remain closed: Ball Creek Road (FR 432), Trout Creek Road (FR 634), Russell Mountain (No. 12), Russell Ridge (No. 92), Ball and Pyramid Lakes (No. 43), Pyramid Pass (No. 13), Pyramid Peak (No. 7), Fisher Peak (No. 27), Trout Lake (No. 41), McGinty Ridge (No. 143), Clifty Mountain and Clifty/Burrow (No. 182), Myrtle Peak Trail (No. 286), and Burton Peak Trail (No. 9).

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.