Character Complex wildfire update for July 19

Character Complex: 4,034 acres Containment: 0% Personnel: 370 Structures Lost: 0

Announcement: A Community Meeting will be held tonight at the Kellogg High School, 7:00 p.m. Attendees are advised to adhere to current CDC guidelines regarding the use of masks, social distancing, and handwashing. The meeting will recorded and posted to the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Facebook page.

Deceitful Fire (2,917 acres): The fire is still burning in a heavily timbered, inaccessible area. West of the fire area, crews are constructing indirect line from Graham Mountain north to the North Fork Coeur d’ Alene River. Fire crews with masticators and dozers are improving an indirect line along the trail system from Graham Mountain eastward towards White Creek Saddle. They are making good progress on the indirect line along the 933 Road to Beaver Creek, and the contingency line further to the south. The north and south structure protection groups are assessing private properties including in the head of Montgomery Gulch, and remain alert for any new fire starts.

Prichard Fire (1,117 acres): The fire continues to back downhill towards West Fork Eagle Creek, with fire crews implementing direct and indirect firefighting tactics including several successful burnout operations. A task force with two Type 1 Hotshot crews and two initial attack crews worked overnight to successfully accelerate line construction and overall containment on the north side from Avery Saddle towards West Fork Eagle Creek. Heavy equipment is working to re-open and reduce fuels along existing roads near the fire’s western and northern perimeter, working towards the Bobtail Fire burn scar. Additional heavy equipment is expected to assist with strengthening the northern indirect line. The structure protection group is continues to prepare properties in the Eagle Creek drainage with hoselays and water pumps should they need to defend boundaries. Structure patrols will be visible in the northern portion of the North Fork Coeur d’Alene River corridor, including Beaver Creek drainage.

Weather and Fuel Conditions: A Red Flag Warning will be effective as of Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 1:00 a.m. Smoky conditions are expected all day today, becoming heavier in the afternoon. With the weather transition of increased cloud cover over the next few days, moisture will lead to an increased risk for thunderstorms and dangerous out-flow winds.

Evacuations and Fire Closures: The Shoshone County Sheriff currently has residents around Prichard and Murray in “Ready” status and the residents on Eagle Creek and West Fork Eagle Creek Roads in “Set” status. For more evacuation information, contact the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and refer to the InciWeb page for more details. Fire managers and Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office have prepared a population protection plan for both fire areas, identifying potentially impacted properties and various evacuation stages if the fires continue to spread.

Road, trail, and area closures are in effect on Idaho Panhandle National Forest lands around the fire areas. The closure order and a map are posted on InciWeb and on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest Facebook page. The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office has closed the following roads: Eagle Creek Road, Montgomery Ridge Road, and Bobtail Road at Prichard Creek for the safety of private landowners and firefighters working in the area.

Fire Restrictions: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect for Shoshone County and all of northern Idaho.

Special Messages: There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire area. For the safety of aerial resources and firefighters on the ground, please do not fly unmanned aircraft (drones) in the fire vicinity. If you fly, we can’t.

For public and firefighter safety, watch out for fire traffic and decreased visibility due to smoke. Please drive with caution near the fire areas.

Primary and Cooperating Agencies: USFS, IDL, Shoshone County, Shoshone County Sheriff, Prichard/Murray VFD, Stimson Lumber, Molpus Woodlands Group, Avista Utilities, and Bonneville Power Administration.