Multiple storm systems have moved through North-Central Idaho over the last week starting many new fires across the landscape. Firefighters from all local agencies, as well as additional contracting resources, have been busy responding to new starts all over the north-central Idaho area.
Smoke may be visible from some of these fires in the area, but initial attack efforts have been successful and most of the new starts are currently either controlled or out. There have been 23 confirmed starts for a current total of 14.5 acres burned on the Grangeville Interagency Dispatch Zone over the last 7 days. Most of these new fires were caused by the recent lightning, apart from a few accidental human starts.
“So far, so good.” Stated Josh Bransford, Fire Staff Officer for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. “At this point our resources have been able to keep up with the operational needs of these new starts both on our forest and our partner’s lands, but that can change quickly if there is a higher priority start with structures, or other critical values at risk.” Bransford also added, “As always, we are working very closely with our interagency partners (Idaho Department of Lands, Nez Perce Tribe, Bureau of Land Management, and Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protection Association) to ensure the resources that we do have available are being utilized as efficiently as possible and engaging the highest priority fires first.”
The current extended weather forecast is calling for daily showers and thunderstorms to continue through the weekend. Storm cores may produce localized moderate to heavy rain, with dry lightning being a concern near the edges of storms. Showers and thunderstorms will become organized by a low-pressure system Thursday into Friday, with higher chances (50-60% probability) for widespread wetting rains.
Currently, there are no fire restrictions in place, but interagency fire managers have been meeting weekly and discussing the possible need as conditions continue to trend towards the hot and dry end of the spectrum.
