Character Complex wildfire update for Aug. 11

Highlights: Hot and dry weather is anticipated over the fire area, potentially increasing fire activity throughout the day. Fire spread will be terrain- and fuels-driven under light wind, except on ridges and mountain tops where wind speeds and gusts increase, making fire control more difficult in those areas. Firefighters continue to remain focused and diligent while safely holding and securing fireline and performing tactical firing operations.

Deceitful Fire 6,836 Acres | 11% Contained: Burning operations on the Avista corridor and FSR 620C are expected to be completed today. Sprinkler systems will be activated, as needed, to aid in securing the fire’s edge and facilitate the reopening of the Coeur d’Alene River Road. The structure protection group is set to assist with firing operations and will also begin removing hose lays and other protection measures where they are no longer needed along the Old River, Beaver Creek and Coeur d’Alene River roads. On the east side of the fire, a hose lay was installed yesterday on the new primary containment line on the ridge south of Beaver Creek Road to the 933 Road. As conditions allow, firing operations will continue in the vicinity of White Peak. Crews will continue working to patrol, hold, and secure the southwest and western fire perimeter in the Graham Creek area and East Fork Graham Creek.

Prichard Fire- 1,342 Acres | 100% Contained: Mop-up within the fire interior and patrolling areas outside of the fire’s edge will continue while suppression repair activities proceed. Chipper operations continue cleaning up materials leftover from fireline construction along the fire perimeter. Interior islands are being monitored as they burn and clean up remaining fuels.

Weather and Smoke: High pressure continues to build today bringing higher temperatures (into the 90’s) and lower relative humidity’s. These conditions will bring the potential for an increase in fire behavior; however, the winds will be fairly light and are not expected to cause extreme fire behavior. Air quality is projected to deteriorate slightly tomorrow throughout the day and will be listed as “moderate.” It is important to note that the decreased air quality is often the result of a combination of fires in neighboring states and is not necessarily an indication of what is occurring on the Stateline Complex. For more information, visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Evacuations and Closures: The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office evacuation orders and road closures remain in place to protect public and firefighter safety. For more information, call the Sheriff’s office at (208) 556-1114. Idaho Panhandle National Forests closures can be found on the Character Complex’s Closure Inciweb page: https://bit.ly/3CeiJPO.