9/11/2015 Kaniksu Complex Update

The Kaniksu Complex, which includes the Tower Fire and six smaller fires, has a total acreage of 26,148 acres and containment of 70 percent as of 6 p.m. Sept.10, 2015.
Residents and visitors are reminded that parts of the Colville and Idaho Panhandle National Forests are still closed to the public for the safety of all. Please check with local ranger districts for more information.

Much of the work within the Kaniksu Complex on Thursday was ensuring control lines were reinforced by mopping up and patrolling along with conducting suppression repair. The crews are identifying and addressing hot spots located by patrols and infrared technologies. Hotshot crews are working in the areas of the fires with rugged and treacherous terrain.
The work completed on the fires will be tested in the next few days as elevated temperatures, low relative humidity, and abundant sunshine will increase the potential for active fire. There is still moisture in the deep fuels from past wetting rains which will moderate fire spread.

Here is a roundup of fire activity:

 Tower Fire: 24,252 acres, 59% containment. Located 6 miles northeast of Usk, Wash., and 6 miles west of Priest Lake, Idaho. The southern portion of the fire is undergoing suppression repair with hose and equipment being recovered. Hotshots are working the northern-most part of the fire.

 Onata Creek Fire: 546 acres, 100% containment. Located 8 miles east/southeast of Ione, Wash. This fire is in patrol status. A suppression repair plan is being drafted.

Grease Creek Fire: 628 acres, 19% containment. Located east of Sullivan Lake. This fire poses significant risk to firefighters due to snags and treacherous terrain. The crews are working on opening existing trails to create an indirect line on the northeast portion of the fire

Hall Mountain Fire: 39 acres. Located on Hall Mountain. This fire is in patrol status.

Slate Creek and South Fork Slate Creek Trail fires: 1 acre and 167 acres respectively. Located near the northwest boundary of Salmo-Priest Wilderness. These fires are in patrol status.

 Baldy Fire: 515 acres, 100% containment. Located 6 miles north of Ione, Wash. Suppression repair continues on this fire.

Current Resources: The number of personnel on the fire is 685. Resources include: 17 crews, 16 engines, 3 helicopters, 5 dozers, 3 water tenders, 3 skidgen, 3 Blackhawk helicopters for medical emergencies, and a variety of fire management and support personnel at the incident base.

Closure and restrictions updates:

 Idaho Burn Restrictions: http://idahofireinfo.blogspot.com/ or http://firerestrictions.us/

 Washington burn restrictions: https://waburnbans.net/

 Idaho Panhandle National Forests closure information:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ipnf/learning/safety-ethics/?cid=stelprd3850265

Colville National Forest closure information:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/colville/alerts-notices

For more information and current maps check: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4508