9/16/2015 Kaniksu Complex Update

Kaniksu Complex Update for September 16, 2015.  Please note that the Fire Information phone number has changed with the Team change.  The number is now 509-445-1868, the hours of operation remain 8 am to 9 pm.  In addition, there are no major changes to map details so no new maps have been developed.

Daily updates from the Kaniksu Type 3 Team will be ending after Sunday, September 20, 2015.

The Kaniksu Complex, which includes the Tower Fire and six smaller fires, has a total acreage of 26,044 acres as of 6 p.m. Sept.15, 2015. The entire perimeter is not identified as requiring containment line. Of that identified for containment, 100 percent of the work is complete.

Parts of the Colville and Idaho Panhandle National Forests are still closed to the public for the safety of all. Law enforcement officers are patrolling closed areas and violators may be cited.  Please check with local ranger districts for more information.

Kaniksu Type 3 team is driving ahead to get the most work accomplished before weather sets in and prevents rehabilitation from being completed.   Most of the Tuesday’s activity consisted of suppression repair work on the Tower Fire.  Crews and engines worked the east and south sides of the fire repairing.  Hot spots were worked on the west side. The Grease Creek Fire has been placed in patrol status.    

The forecast is calling for cooler than normal weather over the next few days with light precipitation Wednesday through Thursday.  The greatest chance of wetting rain may be Wednesday evening into Thursday morning with gusty winds in the region.   

There was a hot spot in the Mill Creek area.  There was also a new start northwest of the Tower Fire.  Kaniksu Complex resources assisted with the fire suppression.  This activity reminds us that there is a strong possibility of smoke being visible throughout the Kaniksu Complex for an extended period of time or until there is significant moisture arrives. 

Here is a roundup of fire activity:

·         Tower Fire: 24,143 acres, 100% containment. Located 6 miles northeast of Usk, Wash., and
6 miles west of Priest Lake, Idaho.

·         Onata Creek Fire: 546 acres, 100% containment.  Located 8 miles east/southeast of Ione, Wash. This fire is in patrol status, suppression repair will be initiated soon.

• Grease Creek Fire: 633 acres, 100% containment. Located east of Sullivan Lake.

·         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.
• Baldy Fire: 515 acres, 100% containment. Located 6 miles north of Ione, Wash.

Current Resources: The number of personnel on the fire is 169. Resources include: 2 crews, 6 engines, 1 helicopters, 3 dozers, 1 water tender 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