State of Idaho seeking small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by the Sunset Fire for potential disaster assistance
By Ben Olson
Reader Staff
A series of new fires broke out on the east side of Lake Pend Oreille after a thunder and lightning storm passed through the area.
The Green Rattle Complex includes several fires around the Green Monarch Mountains, which started from lightning strikes between Aug. 29 and Sept. 2.
The complex has burned a total of 367 acres across several sites, including Green Mountain, Rattle Mountain, Spruce and Spruce Ridge.
What fire managers are calling the Green Mountain fire was detected Aug. 29 and is burning in steep, cliffy terrain about three miles east of Kilroy Bay.
The Rattle Mountain, Spruce and Spruce Ridge fires are burning about 13 miles north/northeast of Clark Fork in remote wilderness characterized by steep, rugged terrain. While hand crews were preparing indirect containment lines, a new start called the Bear Mountain fire was discovered between the Rattle Mountain and Spruce fires.
“Thanks to swift helicopter bucket support and direct ground attack, firefighters successfully contained the Bear Mountain Fire to approximately .25 acres and began mop-up operations,” USFS stated in a news release.
Idaho Department of Lands sent an alert about the Sage Brush fire, which started on Sept. 8 and has burned approximately 47 acres northeast of Athol. The fire is burning in timber understory and grass on rocky terrain. About 100 personnel are onsite building machine and hand lines around the fire to stop it from advancing further. As of press time, the Sage Brush fire was listed at 65% contained and all evacuation orders have been lifted in preparation for the “mop-up” operations starting Thursday, Sept. 11.
The Lightning Creek fire, which was reported on July 30, is listed at 25% containment, having burned more than 2,500 acres about nine miles north of Clark Fork.
The Sunset fire, which started on Aug. 13 and has burned more 3,100 acres near Athol, has been listed as 100% contained and all evacuation notices have been rescinded.
As part of the effort to assess the aftermath of the Sunset fire, the state is gathering information from non-farm small businesses and nonprofit organizations whose operations were disrupted by the fire, in order to see if they are eligible for disaster assistance through low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Bonner County is working with the Idaho Office of Emergency Management to evaluate the potential for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Declaration through the SBA. If approved following a disaster declaration request by Gov. Brad Little, the program would make low-interest loans available to qualifying small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofits.
Officials stated that the loans are intended to help cover “ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met due to the disruption caused by the fire.”
To request the declaration, the state will need at least five or more qualifying EIDL worksheets from small businesses that have experienced economic losses — whether actual or estimated — due to the fire, and are encouraged to submit a worksheet even if they don’t intend to seek a loan.
Find the worksheet at ioem.idaho.gov/SBA. Forms can be downloaded and sent by email to [email protected], by fax to 208-422-3044 or mailed to: ATTN: Jarod Dick, 4040 Guard St., Bldg. 600, Boise, ID 83705
The worksheet is not a loan application, and is intended only for businesses to report losses so a declaration request can be considered. Farms and ranches are not eligible for the SBA program.
Regarding the fire forecast, weather conditions are expected to include slightly cooler temperatures over the next week with chances of showers most days.
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