8/17/2015 Tower Fire Update

Current Size: 5,884 acres*                                                   Containment: 1%

Strategy: Full Suppression                                                    Structures Threatened: 1 residence; 2 structures

 

The Tower Fire was active on several sides today, including the southern, northern and eastern edges where spot fires were frequent. With the opportunity for available air support, ten loads of retardant were used to reinforce holding lines along the southern and western flanks. Although the fire grew over a thousand acres today, it has remained in the higher elevation forests between South Baldy and Grouse Knob. The fire is completely located in the State of Washington, although approximately 60% of the area is on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

Flames and smoke may be visible but there is no imminent threat to structures in the Priest Lake area in the next 24 hours. Today, fire managers will be evaluating the road system in the upper drainages near South Baldy to Grouse Knob for establishing an eastern fireline.

Crews were able to verify that, as of today, the South Baldy Lookout and the King’s Lake Backcountry Warming Cabin (aka Pelke Ridge Hut) are intact, although both are located within the fire perimeter.

Current Resources: The number of firefighters on the incident is 37. Equipment includes: 2 dozers, 3 engines, and 4 water tenders. All firefighting resources, including air support, are limited based availability and priority.

Special Messages/Closures: An evacuation order remains in effect for Browns Lake and South Skookum Campgrounds on the Newport Ranger District and for the North Skookum Campground (Washington DNR). No evacuations have been ordered for the Priest Lake side of the fire.

Officials have closed a portion of the Newport Ranger District of the Colville National Forest due to the current Tower Fire. The closure limits any type of access for a rectangle that bounded on the north by the Mill Creek Road (Forest Road 1200-000) from Le Clerc Road to Pyramid Pass, on the east by the Colville-Idaho Panhandle National Forest Boundary, on the west by Pend Oreille River, and on the south by the section line one mile south of Township 34.

Area visitors should also be aware of closures on Idaho Panhandle National Forest, which include:
Road 310 (Gleason Mtn) at junction with 219 (Lamb Cr)
Road 333 (Goose Cr) and 333b (Blonc Cr) Closed at State line
Road 659 (Squaw Valley) at junction with 1075 (Klahowya rd)
Road 1096 at the junction with Road 1098 (Goose Cr Saddle)
Road 305 (Kings Road beyond private property)
Road 1142 (Butch Creek Rd)

For a listing of all fire related closures on the Idaho Panhandle NF please visit the IPNF Closures webpage.

Residents and recreationalists living in and/or visiting the area are encouraged to stay informed of the changing conditions. Multiple smaller fires are still burning in the area. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in place. Please see Inciweb for updated announcements http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4508/#

*Acres have been updated based on an infrared flight that allows for more accurate mapping. That map is available on the InciWeb site listed above. This is a change from the map based on satellite imagery that reported the acres as 7,019 acres.