Stateline Complex Wildfire update for July 22nd

Acres: 2,175 acres

Personnel: 208

Cause: Lightning

Containment: 0%

Start Date: Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Location: 6.5 miles SW of St. Regis, MT

Fuels: Mixed conifer

Announcement: A Stateline Complex virtual community meeting is scheduled for tonight (Thursday, July 22, 2021) at 8pm/MDT. The meeting will serve as an opportunity to provide all communities and individuals impacted by the Stateline Complex with a situational update and a platform to ask questions.

Overview: The Stateline Complex continues to experience slow and steady fire growth. However, with the warmer and drier weather outlook, there is potential for fire behavior to increase through tomorrow evening, into the latter half of the week and weekend. Crews continue to utilize direct, indirect and point protection tactics across the Complex.

Fire Update: Fires within the Stateline Complex continued moderate fire behavior throughout the day, Wednesday, July 21. 2021. Firefighters did identify one new start; however, they were able to quickly respond and successfully contain it. Crews also made progress on several fires on the northern perimeter, including Broadaxe and Berge Peak, and anticipate containment of those two fires within the next 24 hours. Personnel continue to monitor fire activity via air and ground operations to identify suppression options for the remaining fires within the Complex, including the two largest, Dolly Creek and Tumbledown.

Weather: Yesterday, an upper level disturbance moved over the fires from the west, resulting in very little precipitation some light rain. Today will be the coolest day in the extended forecast as the Stateline Complex will transition to a warming and drying trend with extensive regional smoke impacts over the weekend and into early next week.

Closures: A temporary flight restriction remains in effect for the entirety of the Stateline Complex area. The following also remain closed: St. Joe River Rd/Highway 50 between Bluff and Bruin Creek; FSR 1216 from its junction at Highway 218 to its terminus; Gold Flat Campsite (T16N, R30W, Section 23); several trails and areas within the St. Joe Ranger District. The latest information is available at the links below.

Restrictions: Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect for the Idaho Panhandle (Coeur d’Alene and Grangeville dispatch areas).