Trapper Peak was ablaze 50 years ago

August 16, 2017

It was a hot, dry August 11 in 1967 when a violent thunderstorm roared across the Northwest, a storm full of crackling lightning, rolling thunder, and no rain in sight. By August 12, three fires had broken out on Trapper Peak in Boundary County, and plumes of smoke marked the beginning of fires that would consume the tinder dry forest floor vegetation, and spread into the towering trees. Once the three fires merged, in rough, granitic terrain, a six or seven hours hike from the nearest road, what has come to be known as the Trapper Peak Fire took off with fury. With fires burning all over the west, helicopters were scarce to come by, and the terrain made it difficult to get firefighters and supplies into the rugged area. Strong winds generated by both the storm and the fires themselves added to the difficulty of accessing the area, and the speed with which the fire devoured the forest. By the 15th of August, the raging fire had grown to 400 acres with a crew of 300 battling the blaze. August 20 dawned with the Trapper Peak Fire burning out of control. By now it had grown to 3,400 acres and reportedly 900 firefighters were on the fire lines. Three days later, 1,000 firefighters were battling under a “red flag alert” on the now 5,500 acre blaze. Bulldozers were brought in as 12 foot wide fire lines were carved ahead of the fire in an effort to stop its advance. However, rising southwest winds blew flames and sparks across the fire line into tinder dry under growth, and off it raged again. The fire was “crowning” or “topping out” at this point, leaping from tree top to tree top. Crews trained at the Smoke Jumper Center in Missoula were brought in to join the now 1,700 men trying to stop the Trapper Peak Fire with its impossible terrain. Both the U.S. Forest Service and Idaho Department of Lands, along with local fire departments and citizens of the county fought this massive fire until it was finally brought under control in September. On August 12, fires were discovered on Sundance Mountain in Bonner County. Crews battled the blazes and had them extinguished by August 15. However, this fire does not end here, and will be the topic of next week’s fire story. The Boundary County Historical Society and Museum will be hosting a commemorative program of the 50th Anniversary of the Trapper Peak and Sundance Fires at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 26. This is one you simply do not want to miss. Day by day photos of both fires, and interviews with local folks will be just part of the program. Come join us!