Let freedom ring and the good times roll

Shoshone County has never been one to skimp on Fourth of July fun and festivities. Coming right out of the pandemic, this last holiday weekend was set to be one of the best in a long time.

With high temperatures and little precipitation in the last couple weeks though, many in the community worried that the standard Independence Day activities such as fireworks and campfires could be responsible for starting uncontrolled fires. Thankfully, that wasn't the case and, barring a few minor incidents, everyone seemed to make it through the weekend happy and unharmed.

Idaho Department of Lands Fire Warden Chris Myers states that crews responded to only two wildfire reports over the weekend.

The first was reported around 4 a.m. Saturday morning and was burning in brush/light timber off of Tamarack Ridge Road in Cataldo. Firefighters with Shoshone County Fire District No. 2 and IDL got on top of it quickly and were able to keep the blaze at just over a quarter of an acre.

The second incident, officially named the Big Creek wildfire, had IDL personnel operating near the East Fork of Big Creek on Saturday afternoon. With the fire being in such a heavily rural area, firefighting efforts have primarily consisted of aerial units dropping water taken from Elsie and Killarney Lakes. Seven firefighters ended up making the long trek in and attacking the blaze from the ground as well. As of Monday, the Big Creek fire is 100% contained at half an acre.

The cause is currently under investigation, but lightning is suspected. Myers would like to thank resident Willy Bartlett for calling in the blaze so that quick action could be taken.

On the law enforcement and medical side of things, Shoshone County Sheriff's Office Cpt. Jeff Lee said that units responded to, "several firework complaints all over the county, including the St. Joe region, with a large amount of verbal warnings given to compliant citizens."

Other SCSO calls included a large amount of traffic stops with some citations given, several disturbance calls (unrelated to fireworks complaints), several landline requests, a warrant arrest, welfare checks, a drug arrest, a fun but hot parade detail in Wallace, domestic disputes, an ATV chase/agency assist, MIP violation, and much more.

"A typical SCSO Deputy's weekend," Cpt. Lee said.

In both Kellogg and Osburn, local police departments handed out a few combined citations for illegal firework usage. Shoshone County jail bookings indicate that an Osburn man was even arrested for using illegal fireworks by Osburn Police.

OPD and crews with SCFD No. 1 also handled a vehicle crash into the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store parking lot at 415 Mullan Ave early Monday morning. Due the vehicle rolling over a small embankment around 12:06 a.m., emergency crews had to use heavy equipment to extricate the only occupant, who was transported to Shoshone Medical Center in Kellogg with minor injuries.

OPD Chief Darrel Braaten explains that while the cause of the crash is still under investigation, alcohol is suspected to have been a factor.

No major injuries by any agency were reported over the weekend, but SCFD No. 1 Chief Mark Aamodt said that it appeared that very few people heeded the pleas to not use aerial/illegal fireworks- as they could be seen across the county both Saturday and Sunday nights.

With conditions remaining dry and no serious precipitation in sight, the Shoshone County Fire Chief Association has plans to implement Stage 2 burning restrictions by July 12.

Under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited:

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire.
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
3. Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails in accordance with existing travel management plans for non-commercial purposes including ATVs, UTVs, and pickups.
4. These acts are prohibited from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. (A patrol is required for one hour following cessation of all work as described in a, b, and c):

a. Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine for felling, bucking, skidding, processing, road building and woodcutting or any other activity employing the use of an internal combustion engine or off-road activity associated with industrial operations or fire wood gathering.

b. Blasting, welding, or other activities that generate flame or flammable material.

c. Using an explosive.