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: 22,787 acres                                   Completion: 85%                                                                                                                                    Personnel: 89

Highlights: In areas around properties where the threat is significantly reduced, like those with cold burned areas around them, crews will begin removing structure protection equipment like pumps, hoses, and sprinklers. Crews will communicate with property owners as this occurs. Fire activity is 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. 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.

With hunting season approaching, the public should know that USFS Bonners Ferry Ranger District closures remain in place (https://tinyurl.com/BFClosure). The main fire's closure area runs from Long Canyon Trail No. 16 north of the Complex to Cascade Creek Road No. 2411 on the south. Trail No. 's 182 and 143 remain closed for the Katka Fire. These closures are for public and firefighter safety and will be assessed throughout the duration of the fires and into winter and spring. Fire and post-fire hazards may remain, and the USFS will make notifications as status changes occur.

Planned Actions: As expected, there was a slight increase in fire activity on Tuesday due to the warmer and drier weather. Fire managers continue to check all areas of the fire. They will use helicopters to drop water to cool the fire's edge where needed. A fuel break along the dozer line on Clark Creek has been completed. Water bars have been added to the Ball Creek and Clark Creek handlines to prevent erosion. Firefighters are gridding to check for and cool the remaining heat in areas where the fire has burned to the control line. Crews continue to check the firelines and test pumps and sprinkler systems. The Long Canyon and Katka fires show a slight uptick in fire behavior but are not causing concern. They remain unstaffed, and firefighters continue to monitor them from the air and lookout points.

Weather: The upper ridge causing warmer and drier temperatures will remain through the weekend. Temperatures will be in the upper 60’s and low relative humidity will drop to 39-41% the next few days. On Wednesday, winds will be southeast at 1-3 mph with gusts to 10 mph, and on Thursday north winds will switch to east in the afternoon at 2-5 mph.

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 (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), Burton Peak Trail (No. 9), Pacific Northwest National Scenic 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.