Sunset, Lightning Creek fires increase containment

‘Go’ evacuation status lifted for Sunset fire, with some areas downgraded to ‘Set’ level

By Zach Hagadone
Reader Staff

Despite its swift and heavy growth after starting northeast of Athol on Aug. 13, the 3,230-acre Sunset fire was 52% contained as of Aug. 27, with full containment estimated on Sept. 20.

More than 600 personnel were on the fire, which spread northeast from its apparent ignition site to the western shore of Lake Pend Oreille, burning in steep timber northward toward Talache and triggering widespread evacuation orders.

The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office announced Aug. 25 that all areas under the “Go” evacuation status had been lifted, while some roads in Talache and access to Talache were downgraded to “Set” status, meaning residents in those locations should be prepared to leave at any point when threat levels increase. 

Find the updated “Set” evacuation list, as well as evacuation map and zones, from InciWeb at bit.ly/UpdatedEvacInfo.

According to the Aug. 27 incident report from the National Interagency Fire Center, a total of 28 structures have been lost in the Sunset fire, with an estimated cost-to-date of $13.5 million for suppression. That makes it tied with the Windy Rock fire in Montana as the costliest suppression effort in the Northern Rockies Area, which includes more than a dozen fires throughout the region.

Fire managers reported Aug. 27 that crews would remove pumps, hose lays and sprinklers where they’re no longer needed on the southern and western flanks. Meanwhile, Hotshot crews would continue mopping up areas where residual heat remains in the northern-most sections of the fire, which are nearest to structures.

Suppression efforts include an unmanned aircraft used to identify hot spots. 

Firefighters are working to protect nearby structures as well as natural resources. Officials stated that the fire is primarily active in timber and timber understory, which includes industrial timber plantations and harvest units.

The weather forecast on Aug. 27 called for cooler temperatures, cloud cover and winds shifting to the south — potentially increasing with cooler, moist air moving into the area. Thunderstorms were predicted in the late afternoon and into Thursday. 

The cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Burning on the eastern side of Bonner County about nine miles north of Clark Fork, the Lightning Creek fire was reported Aug. 26 at 2,525 acres and 25% contained. Nine personnel are on the fire, which started July 30 due to lightning and grew through heavy dead and down fuels left from the Cougar fire in 2018. 

Activity was reported as “minimal with creeping and smoldering in isolated areas,” while control lines along Lightning Creek Road remained secure. Officials predicted that the Lightning Creek fire would continue to creep and smolder in the north and south.

Go to bonnerso.org/official-sunset-fire-updates for ongoing news releases and notices, including how to sign up for alerts from the Idaho Department of Lands and access the Inciweb page for the Sunset fire. Regular updates also come via the BCSO through the Nixle emergency alert system. Sign up for Bonner County Nixle alerts by texting 888777 and entering your zip code.

For more information and updates on the Sunset fire, go to inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idids-sunset-fire.

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