USFS fighting PL wildfires

NORDMAN — There are two small fires are burning on the Priest Lake Ranger District, the U.S. Forest Service announced on Monday.

Firefighters are actively suppressing the 1-acre Cedar Creek Fire that is suspected to have been touched off by a lightning strike.

Approximately 5 miles west of the Cedar Creek Fire is the North Fork Hughes Fire, located north of Hughes Meadows in the upper Hughes Creek drainage. The Hughes Creek fire, also believed to have been caused by lightning, is approximately 15 acres in size and is highly visible from Priest Lake.

The Hughes Creek Fire was discovered on Independence Day. Smokejumpers were dispatched to suppress the fire but had to disengaged three days later due to safety concerns, according to the Forest Service.

“Steep, rugged terrain is challenging; presenting multiple safety concerns for firefighters on the North Fork Hughes Fire,” Idaho Panhandle National Forests spokeswoman Shoshanna Cooper said in a news release.

“The fire is burning in a remote location within the Salmo Priest Wilderness where access is very limited. The fire is burning in very large trees on a steep slope. The fire is creeping and burning downslope. As it burns, trees are falling posing significant hazards to firefighters.

“One of the challenges with this fire is that because of the heavy dense timber, retardant and water would not be effective as the fire is currently burning inside of cedars trees,” Cooper added.

Fire managers are considering several variables and evaluating the fire from both air and ground. It has been determined that firefighters cannot safely engage the fire due to remoteness, rugged terrain, heavy fuels, snags, lack of helicopter landing spots, escape routes and safety zones. As fire managers develop a strategic action plan to manage this fire, Chandra Neils, acting Priest Lake District Ranger, stated, “The plan will give the highest priority to firefighter and public safety, with safe, efficient, and mindful management decisions.”

Information on the North Fork Hughes Fire will be updated as needed. To subscribe to these updates, please go to https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ and select “North Fork Hughes Fire” from the drop-down menu. For additional information on these fires, please contact Kary Maddox at 208-443-6835.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.