Officials report 10% containment on Lightning Creek fire

By Zach Hagadone
Reader Staff

Though the Lightning Creek fire nine miles north of Clark Fork has continued to grow at a moderate pace, officials with the U.S. Forest Service reported Aug. 13 that the blaze is now 10% contained.

According to the most recent report, the fire grew from 2,432 acres on Aug. 11 to 2,461 acres by Aug. 13, while heavy equipment operators are removing logs and branches away from the fire’s edge.

There are currently 157 personnel working on the fire, including five engines, one water tender, eight excavators, one feller buncher, two chippers, a hand crew and Hotshots.

Officials reported Aug. 13 that firefighters were feeding brush, large branches and small trees into chippers for processing into smaller pieces, meant to reduce the volume of flammable material. 

“Together, these tactics reduce potential fire intensity and spread,” fire managers stated. “Additionally, removing the thinned brush, branches and small trees from the roadside and ditches help maintain the ability of the Lighting Creek Road to drain and manage water and reduce potential erosion, ultimately supporting road stability and continued access.”

Meanwhile, firefighters are identifying and putting out hot spots on the fire’s edge, where it is safe to do so.

The Lightning Creek fire began July 30 due to lightning strike, growing to between 600 and 700 acres by Aug. 3. It has since spread up the Lightning Creek drainage in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, consuming heavy dead and downed fuels in the scar made by the 2018 Cougar Fire.

The weather outlook on Aug. 13 called for continued warm and dry conditions, while a dry cold front was expected to bring westerly winds with gusts up to 28 miles per hour in the evening.

Officials described the fire’s behavior as “minimal, primarily creeping, backing and smoldering under dense fuel pockets and thick brush.” However, the warm weather and forecasted winds “could promote fire growth with proper slope and fuel alignment.” 

A broad area of land around the fire remains under a closure order, ranging from Upper Lighting Creek and Moose Lake in the north, nearly to Scotchman Peak in the south, and east of East Hope and into the high country to the west.

Personnel on the fire planned to fly a drone over the area on Aug. 13 to gather real-time, high-resolution data to detect hot spots and identify active fire sites, and reminded the public that a temporary flight restriction remains in place, which prohibits operating aircraft — including drones — without permission. 

“Any unauthorized aircraft poses a serious hazard to aviation personnel, necessitating the grounding of aircraft and a potential delay of valuable fire suppression efforts,” officials stated. “If you fly, we can’t.”

For more information and updates on the Lightning Creek fire, go to inciweb.wildfire.gov/idipf-lightning-creek-fire.