Stateline Complex Wildfire update for Aug. 5
Highlights: Factoring in recent fire behavior and growth, a new area closure has been issued for the St. Joe Ranger District. Effective August 3, 2021, the area closure encompasses the headwaters of the St. Joe River, from Avery upstream. The eastern boundary is the Montana state line and the southern boundary is the border between the Idaho Panhandle National Forests and the Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest. Roads that make up the area closure perimeter are not closed, but all roads and trails within the closure are. Moon Pass and the Route of the Hiawatha remain open.
Weather is predicted to bring a chance of thunderstorms over the fire area Thursday, potentially creating unstable fire behavior activity. Firefighters are positioned and ready to respond as needed.
Tumbledown Fire: 9,478 Acres: 0% Contained. Fire managers are planning to use a heavy equipment taskforce to construct mechanical fire line on the north, northwest, west and southwest flanks of the fire where most of the recent growth occurred. On Wednesday, crews were able to stop the spread of a ten acre spot fire in Nugget Creek with a wet line. On Thursday, they will complete handline around the perimeter to further secure it. A structure protection group is performing structural assessments and mitigation work at Avery, Idaho. Firefighters continue to identify access and suppression opportunities in Bluff Creek on the south flank of the fire. The Simmons Fires will be patrolled by air and a structure protection group will continue prep work of Forest Service infrastructure at Red Ives.
Dolly Creek Fire: 825 Acres: 0% Contained. On Wednesday, crews were able to secure the north and east flank of the fire. Today, two engines will work to complete containment line on the south and west flanks.
Weather and Smoke: A weather disturbance will move into the fire area today, bringing a chance of showers, thunderstorms, and erratic winds up to 45 mph. Cooler temperatures (highs in the mid-80s) will accompany the weather system and assist firefighting efforts. A small chance of showers and/or thunderstorms may continue into Sunday. An inversion will remain in place today creating smoky conditions in St. Regis, Avery, Calder and Superior. Gusty erratic winds associated with thunderstorms could increase smoke as fire activity increases. For more information on smoke conditions, visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/
Evacuations & Closures: On Tuesday, July 27, Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office issued a closure expansion for Forest Highway 50 (St. Joe River Road) from the east fork of Gold Creek down to Eagle Creek Forest Road 1214 to the Stateline on Gold Pass into Montana. Several other emergency closures remain in effect due to increased fire activity on the Stateline Complex. For more information on county issued closures and evacuations call the Shoshone County Sheriff’s office at 208-556-1114.
For more information on the USFS Idaho Panhandle National Forest closures go to the Stateline Complex Inciweb site at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7627/.
Primary and Cooperating Agencies: USDA USFS, Idaho Department of Lands, Shoshone County, and Shoshone County Sheriff.
