Type 3 team makes strides on Pioneer Fire
Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler addresses a standing room-only audience in the Priest River Events Center on Monday evening over the county's evacuation procedures.
(Photo by ANNISA KEITH)
Community members look at a map at Monday's community meeting about updates on the Pioneer Fire. A Type 3 fire team expects to have the wildfire 100% contained before the end of the week.
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PRIEST RIVER — The Pioneer Fire is expected to be fully contained before the end of the week, Idaho Department of Lands officials told residents at a community meeting on Monday.
A Type 3 fire team is working on containing the blaze two miles north of Priest River. As of Monday night, the fire is 70% contained.
“On that north end, we just need another shift or two for our comfort level, and we should be able to show this thing as 100% contained” said Type 3 incident commander John Heyn. “It was a great catch by local units and local loggers.”
The fire has burned 355 acres since it was reported this past Thursday, forcing some residents in the area to be evacuated.. While residents have been allowed to return to their homes, they have been asked to remain ready in the event things change.
Located 2 miles north of Priest River, the Pioneer Fire is burning in steep terrain consisting of light logging slash and mixed conifer timber.
Crews are working to build suppression lines as well as scout for potential containment opportunities, Caroline McGough, North Idaho Type 3 IMT public information officer, said in an update on the fire. In addition, night shift crews will continue to monitor and secure suppression lines around residences.
McGough said continued hot and dry weather could allow for continued growth of the fire and afternoon winds could increase fire behavior and the potential for spotting.
Sheriff Darryl Wheeler explained the Ready-Set-Go evacuation procedures to a standing-room only crowd who gathered to hear the latest on the fire during a community meeting at the Priest River Event Center yesterday evening.
“Ready” status indicates having an evacuation plan in place for your household, Wheeler said.
“Everybody should be in that ‘ready’ position all the time because of the fire season right now,” said Wheeler to the crowd of around 300 people.
“Set” status requires people prepare to evacuate in every way besides actually leaving.
“Go” status means that there is an imminent threat, and evacuation should happen immediately.
“When we say ‘go’ we want you to load your animals, load your personal property, load your family. Load up and leave,” said Wheeler, “When we come knocking on your door, the situation has gotten to the point where you need to go.”
The public is asked to unlock their gates so deputies can have the access they need to alert people to evacuate.
“We do not have the resources to come to your gate and possibly walk a mile to your door,” Wheeler said. “There’s just too many homes.”
Animals can be taken to the Bonner County Fairgrounds. Sheriff Wheeler told the attendees of Monday’s meeting that community members are donating their time, effort, and cattle trailers to help those who need to transport animals. They ask citizens to reach out to the sheriff’s office if anyone needs that kind of help.
The public is encouraged to sign up for Nixle alerts for Bonner County by texting “83864” to 888-777. Nixle is an advisory service which sends text messages with updates on fire evacuation notices, missing persons, road closures and other necessary alerts.
To check on the status of the Pioneer fire, go to inciweb.nwcg.gov and search “Pioneer Fire.”
Or go to the Idaho Department of Lands website at idl.idaho.gov/pioneer. Those interested can also call the Pioneer Fire information hotline at 208-494-1107.
