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Observances of the Trapper Peak and Sundance
Fires set |
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August 5, 2017 |
On a hot, dry day in August of 1967, the forces
of nature combined to create a series of events
that would be forever in the minds of many
Boundary and Bonner County residents.
Lightning
strikes in the northwest corner of Boundary
County raged out of control for 31 days,
consuming 16,000 acres.
This fire, known as the Trapper Peak Fire, had a
firefighting army of 2,200, with 100 bulldozers
raging through the rampaging flames, along with
planes and helicopters, ambulances, water
trailers and fire trucks making courageous
attempts to contain the spread.
The very same month, lightning unleashed its
fury on Sundance Mountain in Bonner County,
which engulfed more than 56,000 acres, and in a
period of only nine hours traveled 16 miles. The
Sundance became a spectacular and horrific blaze
with a record setting rate of consumption,
racing over the Selkirk Crest toward Boundary
County.
This was one of the hottest, fastest, and most
destructive in US firefighting history.
Commemorative events are being scheduled to
observe the 50th year of these two unforgettable
fires in northern Idaho with the efforts of
numerous agencies and organizations. Priest Lake
Museum will hold a program of commemoration on
Wednesday, August 23, at 7 p.m. at the Priest
Lake Elementary School. Boundary County Museum
will hold its program on Saturday, August 26,
beginning at 2 p.m. in the Museum’s Portrait
Hall.
On September 2, a dedication of a new trail head
interpretive sign and a memorial plaque honoring
the two firefighters who lost their lives in the
Sundance Fire will be held, beginning at 9:30
a.m. at the Upper Pack River Bridge (west of
Highway 95 and the Samuels Store, on Upper Pack
River Road, approximately 4.5 miles).
T-shirts are on sale at the Museum and Idaho
Department of Lands office in Bonners Ferry, and
a GoFundMe campaign has been established to
raise funds to cover the costs of the Memorial
Plaque and Trail Head Sign, as well as to fund
travel for the families of the fallen to meet
for the very first time and attend the
dedication.
If you would like to donate, visit
https://www.gofundme.com/sundance-fire-50th-commemoration. |
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