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August 14, 3:15 p.m.---Parker Ridge Fire nearly
2,000 acres, crews working to protect nearby
private properties |
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August 14, 2015 |
As of approximately 1:00 p.m. this afternoon
(Friday, August 14), fire officials were
estimating the Parker Ridge Fire at just under
2,000 acres (1,939 acres), still with 0%
containment.
"The fire made a run to the north overnight,
crossed the no name creek to the north and down
to Parker Creek to the south, and is being held
at the creek side," say the fire officials.
(Story continues below this
photograph)
A total of three miles of fire line were
constructed yesterday with the use of hand tools
and a dozer. Crews also worked through the night
on structure protection. Numerous heavy
helicopter water drop operations took place west
of the Westside Road, in an effort to keep the
fire on the primitive, west side of the road,
and away from the developed area on the east
side of the road in that area. Crews are closely
monitoring fire activity in Parker Creek
drainage and on the slope above Westside Road
from Parker Canyon to Long Canyon.
The Parker Ridge Fire is currently the largest
fire burning in the Idaho Panhandle National
Forest. Maps provided by the Idaho Panhandle
National Forest (you can see the latest one by
clicking here) show the fire to be between 4 and
5 miles in its longest length.
"Concern for firefighter and public safety is
the absolute number one priority and remains the
primary guidance for all management actions.
Structure and private timber protection also
continue to be of high importance and the
fireline will be plumbed with a progressive hose
lay today," said the officials.
Helicopter flights for reconnaissance continue
over the area. Ground crews continue to further
prepare homes, install sprinkler systems, and
conduct defensive actions for properties along
the West Side Road which lies around the eastern
base of Parker Ridge.
"Night time operations will continue through the
foreseeable future to aggressively manage the
fire," fire officials said.
In our local area, Fire Danger rating is
Extreme. The National Wildfire Preparedness
Level is now at its highest level of PL 5.
With recent lightning storms in our region,
there are more than 50 known wildfires currently
burning across north Idaho, mainly at higher
elevations and in remote locations. Most of the
fires are less than an acre but may have the
potential to grow as predicted winds and dry
conditions persist.
"The vast majority of our current fires are very
small, but the large number of fires is
spreading our firefighters thin," said Jason
Kirchner, U.S. Forest Service Public Affairs
Officer.
Weather continues to be a serious concern, as
there has been little let up in our ongoing hot,
dry weather that tends to enhance fire behavior.
We have also continued to have periodic
lightning storms and flashes occurring. There
currently are Red Flag Warning weather
conditions until 8:00 p.m. tonight for our
region.
Weather forecasters are predicting for weather
today to be mostly cloudy with scattered rain
showers and isolated thunderstorms today with
the cold front. A second round of storms tonight
will be accompanied by the potential for
abundant lighting and may produce damaging
winds, large hail and heavy rainfall in the
afternoon and evening.
Temperatures today will have highs in the mid to
upper 80s with lows in the upper 40s to mid 50s.
Southwest wind today 10 to 20 mph. Gusts up to
30 mph in the afternoon and to 35 mph tonight.
These wind gusts can facilitate spread of fires.
Chance of precipitation 50% today and 30%
tonight, with rainfall amounts less than a tenth
of an inch, except higher amounts possible in
thunderstorms. The front will usher in cooler
temperatures and eventually better humidity
numbers. Additional shower and thunderstorms may
come in through next week.
"The high winds predicted for today may
complicate containment efforts and increase the
amount of smoke in the air," said Mr. Kirchner,
"but we are hopeful that the cooler temperatures
and higher humidity this weather front is
bringing will help our firefighters quickly
extinguish all of these fires soon."
Due to the large number of small fires burning
across north Idaho, the Idaho Panhandle National
Forests have opened a public fire information
line at (208) 765-7383. Callers can expect to
receive information about fire locations, road
and trail closures, and safety information
including evacuation preparations.
The fire information line will be staffed from
8:00 am until 8:00 pm until further notice.
Officials are asking that callers to the line be
patient with those manning the phone lines, as
fire conditions are evolving rapidly.
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