Fire danger raised to Extreme, Stage 1 restrictions set to take effect

CATALDO— The Shoshone County Fire Chief’s Association (SCFCA), which includes members from all local fire departments and wildland fire agencies, have determined it is time to move the fire danger to Extreme for the local area: effective August 1, 2017.

We also would like to announce that Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will become effective on August 3, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. and will remain in effect until rescinded.

Under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited until further notice:

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire EXCEPT within a designated recreation site, or on their own land, and only within an owner-provided structure.

2. Smoking, EXCEPT within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

The purpose of fire restrictions is to reduce the risk of human-caused fires during unusually high fire danger and/ or burning conditions.

For example, in the Idaho Department of Lands- Cataldo Forest Protective District, 85 percent of the fires they have taken action on this year have been human caused.

100 percent of the mutual aid responses to fires within the wildlands, along with Shoshone Fire Districts 1 and 2, have been human caused.

These numbers are very high compared to past years.

The due diligence of everyone is needed and the prompt action/ calls to 911 when a wildfire is seen is required.

The quicker the notifications can be made to the 911 center at the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, the sooner the response can be made by the appropriate agencies.

It is going to take all of us working together to ensure we do not have a large human caused wildfire.

Information that you can provide when reporting a wildfire that will assist first responders includes:

•Your name and phone number you are calling from.

•Where is the fire located?

•Can you see flames?

•What size is the fire?

•What is the volume and color of the smoke?

•What is burning?

•From what location can you see the fire?

•Can you stay at that location to assist firefighters find the fire?

Please stay engaged in your community as we continue with this very hot and dry wildfire season.

For additional information or questions about this restriction, please contact your local fire district, at the phone numbers below:

Shoshone County FD #1: 208-752-1101

Shoshone County FD#2: 208-784-1188

U.S. Forest Service: 208-783-2100

Idaho Department of Lands: 208-682-4611