By Zach Hagadone
Reader Staff
Crews working on the Upper Smith Fire, burning on 2,305 acres about 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, have brought the blaze to 40% containment, as of Aug. 5.
Reported July 8 and caused by lightning, the fire remains most active in Long Canyon Creek, where it is moving southwest away from homes and other at-risk properties. There are 253 personnel working the incident, including six helicopters, five hand crews, nine engines and five water tenders.
Smoke, including possible smoke columns, will continue to be visible as unburned heavy fuels smolder and burn.
Officials stated that hot, dry conditions are forecast for Friday, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 8, along with slightly stronger winds blowing west/southwest. Gusts up to 20 miles per hour in the afternoons will contribute to “elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions.” There is no rain expected in the area over the next several days.
No evacuation orders are in place, and further information is available at the Boundary County Sheriff’s webpage: boundarysheriff.org. A temporary flight restriction is in place over the Upper Smith Fire, including drones
Smith Creek Road, the Long Canyon Trail and the Parker Ridge Trail remain closed, and the public is strongly encouraged to avoid the Smith Creek drainage area.
Get more info at fs.usda.gov/r01/idahopanhandle/alerts.
The Spokane Complex Fires, including the Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lanes fires in Spokane and Stevens counties, Wash., continue to burn on 10,546 acres, triggering tens of thousands of evacuations and up to 700 structures reported destroyed or damaged.
Fire officials reported Aug. 5 that “significant progress” had been made since the first of the blazes was reported on Aug. 1, with the Old Trails and Autumn Lane fires now at 13% containment, the Fairview Fire at 5% containment and lines established around all three.
As of Aug. 5, information on possible deaths or injuries had not been released and the causes of all three fires are under investigation. However, 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci has been arrested and charged with first-degree arson, accused of “knowingly and maliciously” sparking the Old Trails Fire in west Spokane, which alone has burned at least 3,509 acres, according to media reports.
According to the Washington Department of Natural Resources, about 900 firefighters are working the Spokane Complex as of press time.
According to the latest official update on Aug. 5, crews are working aggressively to strengthen fire lines, mopping up and extinguishing heat pockets near homes and other structures. The 900-acre Autumn Lane Fire north of Spokane is currently the most active, though crews were able to complete and reinforce fire lines on Aug. 4. “Solid progress” was also made on the 981-acre Fairview Fire in east Spokane, officials stated, where containment was improved with secured fire lines.
Fire managers stressed that the entire incident area is under a temporary flight restriction, with Spokane County reporting that there were 26 reported incursions of drones on Aug. 2 alone, resulting in the grounding of firefighting aircraft. Officials reported Aug. 5 that, “Encouragingly, there were zero drone incursions over the past 24 hours, allowing aircraft to operate safely and without interruption during critical firefighting operations.”
Smoke from the Spokane Complex has blanketed large portions of the Inland Northwest, with air quality routinely registering in the “unhealthy” to “hazardous” categories in various places, including North Idaho.
Those conditions have improved somewhat in recent days, owing to cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity since Aug. 3. However, the forecast for the remainder of the week calls for temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s with lower humidity, making for increased fire danger and “another period of critical fire weather” later this week and into the weekend, officials stated.
To follow the Spokane Complex Fires or for more information, go to @SpokaneAreaFires on Facebook, call 509-215-8236 or email [email protected].
For information and updates on all area fires, go to inciweb.wildfire.gov.
