Crews continue attack on Trestle Creek fires
An aerial view of the Trestle Creek Complex Fire shortly after it was reported.
(Photo courtesy U.S. FOREST SERVICE)
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Despite three of the fires in the Trestle Creek Complex being significantly or mostly contained, growth of the Trestle 6 fire is offsetting crews progress.
Trestle 2, 3, and 5 are 100 percent contained, with crews previously assigned to those fires transferred to Trestle 1, which is now 80% contained. The Trestle 6 fire, which is expected to continue to back down into Lightning Creek and Falls Creek, is 0%. Overall, the
Fire are expected to continue to creep, allowing group torching, throwing spots and creating rollout, Dorothy Harvey, a public information officer for Battle Mountain District for the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada.
This weekend, crews will continue efforts to contain fires and do mop-up of line construction. In addition, Harvey said firefighters will continue to scout for potential opportunities to engage in suppression actions on fire #6 with limited resources.
Continued efforts to contain Trestle 1, include line construction and mop-up, keeping the fire east of Trestle Ridge using full suppression strategy with direct attack, Harvey said.
Resources that are becoming available will be shifted to Trestle 6. Crews will be scouting the fire and creating a plan for direct line instruction where possible in order to safely contain the fire.
The fires have been burning since a July 7 lightning storm, which caused 32 fires on Idaho Panhandle National Forests land. A total of 10 lightning strikes were recorded in the vicinity of Trestle Creek, with fires visible from Sandpoint, Hope and Lake Pend Oreille.
A total of 110 personnel are fighting the fire with 298 acres burned. Crews estimate contained of all fires in the complex by Aug. 15.
The Trestle Creek Road has been closed just above the Huckleberry Campground and Lightning Creek Road has been closed just above the junction of Rattle Creek and Lightning Creek roads.
Harvey said crews began wrapping the Moose Warming Hut and Lunch Peak lookout will start being wrapped on Saturday. Neither structure is in danger at this time but are being wrapped as a precaution, she said.