Single Publication

Location: 5.5 miles west of Nordman, ID in Pend Oreille County, WA      

Cause: Lightning      

Start Date: July 14

Size: 835 acres      

Personnel: 18      
 
Contained/Confined: 44%      
 
Incident Commander: ICT4 Hirst 
 

These updates will be produced twice a week unless significant activities occur.
 

Overview: Firefighters and heavy equipment have completed all the containment lines on the west, south and east sides of the Diamond Watch Fire. Diamond Creek continues to act as a natural barrier keeping the fire confined on the northern edge. This fire is being managed with a contained/confined strategy using a combination of natural barriers and constructed fireline to stop the fires spread beyond the defined area. This strategy is being used due to rugged, inaccessible terrain where firefighter safety could not be maintained due to lack of safety zones or escape routes from the fire. Last week’s rains temporarily diminished much of the heat within the fire area, but the return of warm and dry conditions will dry out natural piles of debris and interior smokes will likely be visible again from ID Highway 57 near Nordman, ID. Due to the large amount of jackstraw piles of dead and down trees within the interior of the fire, smoke may be seen until an end of the season event occurs. The fire area closure remains in effect and the public is asked to stay out of the closure to allow firefighters and equipment to safely work within the area. The current fire area closure can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ipnf/alerts-notices. Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority.
 

Planned Actions: Local Forest engine crews are assisting assigned firefighters with patrolling the almost 7 miles of containment lines. Heavy equipment is working on the Forest Service roads to ensure they are cleared and safe for travel when the area reopens. Fire crews and equipment removed vegetation and created a shaded fuel break along FSR 308 where they can safely fight the fire from as it approaches the area. The mile of hose lay with sprinklers and pumps remains in place along the west and east containment lines ready for firefighters to use if the fire nears the line. 

Smoke: Smoke from fires in WA and ID may have impacts to the air quality around Priest Lake. For the current interactive air quality map and predicted smoke conditions, visit https://fire.airnow.gov/.
 

Closures & Evacuations: Area and road closures have been issued for Forest Service Roads 311, 308, 1362H and the area in the vicinity of the Diamond Watch Fire. Petit Lake and its associated dispersed campsites are within the area closure. FSR 1362 remains open. This closure is for public safety due to heavy equipment operations and wildfire suppression effects on the Diamond Watch Fire. All methods of travel are prohibited (foot, mechanized, motorized and stock) on the closed roads and area. The Priest Lake area can be accessed from the Colville National Forest through Newport, WA via US Highway 2 north and Priest River, ID via ID Highway 57 north. There are NO evacuations. However, when living in fire prone areas it is recommended that all area residents have an evacuation plan in place including having all important documents, pictures, prescriptions, and pets gathered up and easily transportable.  Residents of Bonner County, ID or Pend Oreille, WA can visit https://www.nixle.com or text home zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts.