Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8368/ & https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8349/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/USFSIPF

Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District

Kootenai National Forest, Cabinet Ranger District

Phone: (208) 557-8813

*Updates will occur with any significant changes*

Columbus Fire

Location: Approx. 6 miles northeast of Murray, Idaho | Size: 1,806 acres | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 0%

Overview: The Columbus Fire is likely a lightning holdover from previous thunderstorms earlier in August. It was confirmed on August 22nd. It straddles 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, contain, and monitor 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. Once the fire crossed into Montana, the Cabinet Ranger District of the Kootenai National Forest joined the IPNF for a formal “Delegation”, ensuring that priorities for both districts are being clearly communicated to the one Incident Commander on scene to ensure unified suppression operations. Heavy equipment, including an excavator, dozer, and masticator, are working on Forest Service Roads 152 and 2222 on the Montana side. This work will not only improve access for engines and equipment, but it also increases the defensibility of these road systems if need arises to use them as fireline. Regional haze, combined with local impacts from numerous wildfires, has resulted in Unhealthy to Hazardous air quality across the Idaho Panhandle. Visit fire.airnow.gov for more information, definitions, and recommended precautions.

Bear Gulch Fire

Location: 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 challenges.

Current 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 and acreage has not changed since last report.

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 in the vicinity of the Columbus Fire:

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

·       See Map for area closure boundary

Road and trail closures:

·       NFS Road 152 junction of NFS Trail 725 (Emma Creek Trail) in T22N R31E Sec 4 west to the District Boundary in T22N R32W Sec 17

·       NFS Road 152E in its entirety

·       NFS Road 152F in its entirety

·       NFS Road 152G in its entirety

·       NFS road 152J in its entirety

·       NFS Road 215 from the Junction of NFS Road 2254 at T23N R32W Sec 22 to its terminus at NFS Trail 761 at T23N R32W Section 20

·       NFS Road 2222 at Reader Gulch Trailhead at T23N R31W Sec 29 to the junction of NFS Road 152 at T22N R32W Sec 12

·       NFS Road 2257 in its entirety

·       NFS Road 2258 in its entirety

·       NFS Road 2262 in its entirety

·       NFS Trail 725 (Emma Creek Trail) in its entirety

·       NFS Trail 731 (Dixie Ridge Trail) in its entirety

·       NFS Trail 734 (Cub Creek) in its entirety

·       NFS Trail 749 (Reader Gulch) from trailhead at T23N R31W Sec 29 to junction with NFS Road 2254 at T23N R31W Sec 19

·       NFS Trail 761 in its entirety

·       NFS Trail 763 from Junction with NFS Trail 761 in T23N R32W Sec 20 southwest to Black Peak at T23N R32W Sec 31

·       NFS Trail 774 From the Cabinet Ranger District Boundary at T23N R32W Sec 25 North approximately 2.7 miles to SF Trout Creek tributary at T23N R32W Section 18

There are no evacuations associate with these fires. However, when 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.

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