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Idaho fire danger high
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August 28, 2012 |
At least 50 wildfires are currently being
tracked in Idaho, and continued hot, dry
conditions have resulted in expanded Stage 1
fire restrictions being imposed today in much of
central Idaho, placing strict limitations on the
use of all fires until further notice. Those
restrictions haven't been imposed in Boundary
County, but the danger for wildfires throughout
North Idaho are high.
The haze in the air over Boundary County is the
result of fires burning in Idaho, Washington,
Oregon and even California.
In some parts of southern Idaho, Idaho Governor
Butch Otter has mobilized the National Guard to
assist in firefighting and community protection.
"I spent a busy day on Tuesday, August 21st,
flying around several of the actively burning
forest fires threatening several of our
communities," he said in a release issued today.
"The Trinity Ridge fire is burning in the Boise
National Forest, dangerously close to the towns
of Pine and Featherville. The Halstead Fire is
burning near Stanley in the Salmon Challis
National Forest. I got a firsthand look at the
great work that firefighters are doing and was
brief by incident commanders on the fires - each
of which are over 100,000 acres. The cost
fighting the Trinity Ridge fire alone is upwards
of $16 million."
According to the governor, over 1,000
firefighters are working on the Trinity Ridge
Fire and over 600 on the Halstead fire.
The area now covered by the Stage 1 fire
restrictions now includes public and private
lands outside of incorporated cities in all of
Nez Perce, Clearwater and Lewis Counties, parts
of Idaho County north of tthe Salmon River and
west of U.S. 95, the Hells Canyon Recreation
Area in Adams County and all Clearwater National
Forest lands in Latah and Shoshone Counties.
Under Stage 1 fire restrictions, it is illegal
to build a campfire or use a camp stove outside
except in a designated recreation site or, on
private property, within a proper fire pit; and
it's illegal to smoke outside an enclosed
vehicle or in a three foot diameter area that's
bare or has been cleared of all flammable
materials.
There are certain exceptions, but they're few,
and most require an approved burn permit issued
by the Idaho Department of Lands.
Backcountry fires have raised concerns for
hunters, including access, and a number of roads
and trails in Idaho have been closed until the
danger of wildfire diminishes.
According to Idaho Fish and Game, hunters
affected by fire-related closures can adjust
their schedule to hunt later in the season or
exchange general tags to hunt in a different
area, though tags have to be exchanged before
the season begins. Hunters with controlled hunt
tags can exchange them for general season tags
before the controlled hunt begins, but fees will
not be refunded.
IDFG will consider requests for rain checks or
refunds for those blocked by fire, but only on a
case-by-case basis.
Everyone planning to head into the backcountry
should check with the local Forest Service
district office or with the county sheriff's
department before heading out.
You can find updates on fires throughout the
nation on the Incident Information System
website,
http://www.inciweb.org. |
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