8/18/2015 Tower Fire Update

Special Messages:    Public Meeting Scheduled for Priest Lake Elementary School, Wednesday, August 19^th, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

Public Meeting Scheduled for Cusick High School, Thursday, August 20^th, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

Current Industrial Fire Precaution Level (Washington DNR) is 3 in all zones: no chainsaw use in forest. This will change on Level 4 (no activity) on Thursday.

Tower Fire:

Current Size: 7,743 acres                                                     Containment: 1%

Strategy: Full Suppression                                                    Structures Threatened: 1 residences;

     2 structures

Situation: Active wildland fire, lightning-caused on August 11^th, fire reported on August 12, 2015, located 12 miles southwest of Priest Lake, Idaho and 17 miles north of Newport, WA.

Today’s Update: The Tower Fire growth yesterday occurred mostly to the east and southeast. Crews and aircraft made progress in securing the west side of the fire. Today’s objectives are to reinforce holding lines along the southern and western flanks to establish a solid anchor. The fire is completely located in the State of Washington, although more than 60% of the area is on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

Flames and smoke may be visible but fire managers do not anticipate any immediate need for evacuations for any communities because of this fire. The fire is still up high away from residences and communities.

Current Resources: The number of firefighters on the incident is 39. Equipment includes: 2 dozers, 3 engines, and 4 water tenders. All firefighting resources, including air support, are limited based availability and priority.

Closures: An area closure remains in effect for Browns Lake and South Skookum Campgrounds on the Newport Ranger District and for the North Skookum Campground (Washington DNR). There are no evacuation orders for this 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/#

Baldy Fire:

Current Size: 535 acres                                                        Containment: 100%

Strategy: Full Suppression                                                    Structures Threatened: 0 residences;

     0 structures

Situation: Wildland fire, started on August 1^st, 2015, located 16 miles north of Ione, WA.

Today’s Update: Personnel are monitoring the fire, while the majority of firefighting resources are reassigned to the Tower Fire.

Additional Fires:

Current Size: Less than 100 acres  total                              Containment: 0%

Strategy: Full Suppression                                                    Structures Threatened: 0 residences;

     0 structures

Situation: There are currently 4 unstaffed fires in monitor status that are awaiting available resources. To report additional fires not listed below, please call 911.

Today’s Update: These fires include:

• Hall Fire: located on Hall Mountain
• Grease Creek: located south of Hall Mountain.
• Slate Creek & N. Slate Creek: located near the NW boundary of Salmo-Priest Wilderness.