Rains help crews battle TCC fires

Significant precipitation has made a world of difference on the Trestle Creek Complex, fire officials said Friday.

That precipitation, coupled with the fire growing toward accessible roads and trails provided fire crews with the opportunity to anchor the fire line in numerous places and construct direct line to attack the fire, Dorothy Harvey, Nevada Incident Management Team 4 public information officer, said.

Where feasible, heavy equipment is being used to help anchor the fire line and build the direct line. However, terrain limits on the equipment prevent containment actions in many places along the fire perimeter, Harvey said.

Harvey said Nevada IMT4 command team officials planned to focus their limited resources on containment actions along the southern and western flanks of the fire. In addition to creating fuel breaks and fire lines, firefighters were working to secure spot fires in Trestle Creek.

A structure protection plan continues to be implemented in conjunction with the Sam Owen Fire Department. Those efforts include deploying pumps, hose, and sprinkler systems to protect private residences, Harvey said.

While cool temperatures and some much-needed rainfall have helped firefighters, warmer conditions are anticipated, which could bring increased fire activity on the complex.

Seasonal general southwest to west winds are expected with humidity values heading on a downward trend. While showers and isolated thunderstorms may develop, Harvey said they are likely to bring only trace amounts of precipitation.

The fire, which is located about 4 miles north of Hope, has burned 6,180 and is 5% contained. The complex started as seven fires, before two of the fires merged. All of fires were sparked by a July 7 lightning storm, had been contained with the exception of Trestle 6 until a windstorm earlier this month pushed that fire around the others in the complex, nullifying previous containment.

The Trestle Creek Road has been closed at Highway 200 and Lightning Creek Road remains closed north of Clark Fork. Residents are asked to stay out of these areas and to not go past any closure barriers.

In other fires in the region:

Stateline Complex

Located on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, the Stateline Complex has burned 12,757 acres and is 15% combined. The largest of the fires in the complex is the Tumbledown Fire, which has burned 10,677 Acres acres and is 20% contained.

Like the Trestle Creek fires, precipitation has led to a decrease on the Stateline Complex fires. Handcrews are being utilized to secure critical portions of fire containment lines between Fuzzy and Bluff creek with hoselay, fire officials said. Heavy equipment is being used to build both indirect and direct fireline between existing roads and natural features such as the old Nugget fire burn scar.

Construction of a fire line around timber sales is still in progress and access into many areas of the fire is still being scouted.

Character Complex

The Character Complex — comprised of the Deceitful and Prichard fires — has burned 12,259 acres and is considered 10% contained.

A closure order is in effect around the fire, with heavy equipment and fire personnel working to battle the blaze and assess fire hazards. The public is asked to respect the closures, which are being strictly enforced.

South Yaak Fire

Located about 4 miles northwest of Troy, Mont., the South Yaak Fire has burned 12,522 acres and is 51% contained.

Patrol and mop up operations are continuing on the Eastside Road and in the North Fork of O’Brien Creek and hand crews are constructing direct and indirect landlines in the Arbo Creek drainage. Heavy equipment is being used to open decommissioned roads in the Arbo Creek drainage to develop alternate containment lines on the fire's northern flank.

Crews captured a displaced peacock hen at the Yaak Mountain Lookout on Wednesday and the bird was transported to the Kootenai Ranger District Office for safekeeping until her owner can claim her.

Burnt Peak Fire

Located 9 miles southwest of Troy, the Burnt Peak Fire has burned 4,066 acres and is 29% contained.

Additional moisture and lower temperatures are helping crews attack the Burnt Peak Fire as work continues on roads for alternate containment lines in the West Fork Keeler Creek drainage. Fire officials said a shaded fuel break is being built on Keeler-Rattle Road to begin work on a shaded fuel break as well as crews working on fire’s northern edge where hand line could be built if crews become available in the coming days and weeks.

For information on fire restriction, the "Ready, Set, Go" evacuation program, Idaho Firewise and more, go online to idahofireinfo.com/. For up-to-date information on smoke, go online to fire.airnow.gov/.