Single Publication

Columbus FireLocation: Approx. 6 miles northeast of Murray, Idaho | Size: Approx. 1,000 acres | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 0%
Overview: The Columbus Fire is likely a lightning holdover from previous thunderstorms. It was confirmed on August 22nd. It is close to the Idaho/Montana state line near the Columbus Creek drainage in the headwaters of the East Fork of Eagle Creek. The Columbus Fire is in steep, rugged terrain, making access difficult.Current Status:  The fire is being managed under a confine and contain strategy with point protection. Sprinklers have been set up for point protection around private values in the area, and suppression actions have occurred to check fire spread and contain spot fires. The unseasonable hot and dry weather has resulted in red flag warnings across the region and substantial but predicted growth on the Columbus Fire. A reconnaissance flight at midday today provided the most recent acreage update, and the head of the fire has reached the rocky divide of the ID/MT border. Recent patterns of smoke production and fire behavior are expected to continue until moderated by a change in the weather pattern.
Bear Gulch FireLocation: Approximately 6 miles east of Murray, Idaho | Size: 144 acres | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 0%
Overview: The Bear Gulch Fire was caused by lightning and confirmed on August 18th. It is within a mile of the Idaho/Montana state line near Maple Peak in the Bear Gulch drainage. Terrain is very similar to the Columbus Fire, with abundant snag hazards and access challengesCurrent Status:  Crews continue work to gain safe access to the fire. The firefighting strategy is monitor, confine, and contain. Crews will utilize natural features such as rockslides to help slow the fire's spread. The minimal fire growth over the last three weeks is expected to continue until a season-ending event.
Closures: Wildfires pose inherent risks, with the potential for rapidly changing conditions, fire behavior, and fire spread that produces smoke, snags, and rolling rocks and logs. The following closures are in place for firefighter and public safety: Idaho Panhandle National Forests• Trail 148, from its junction with Forest Road 152 to its junction with Trail 7 • Trail 7, from its junction with Forest Highway 9 at Thomson Pass north to junction with Trail 148• Forest Service Road 1551 from its junction with Forest Road 2349 east to the junction with FSR 152• All of Forest Service Road 938, FSR 430, FSR 604CZ, and FSR 152. Kootenai National Forest• FSR 152 from the junction with FSR 2262 west to the district boundary• FSR 2262 from the junction with FSR 152 south to its terminus• Trail 731 from its junction with FSR 152 southwest to its junction with Trail 7• Trail 763 from its junction with Trail 761 to district boundary• Trail 774 at the junction with Berry Lake tributary to junction with Trail 7When living in fire-prone areas, it is recommended that all area residents have an evacuation plan, including having all essential documents, pictures, prescriptions, and pets gathered up and quickly transportable.###