Storms help, hurt wildfire efforts

BONNERS FERRY — A long-lasting thunderstorm brought lightning strikes around the county on Saturday, Aug. 10, igniting fires.

A grass fire was reported in a field off Westside Road, and North Bench Fire responded shortly before 4:30 p.m., with assistance from South Boundary Fire, Paradise Valley Fire, and Boundary Ambulance.

When they arrived on scene, the fire was already out, but they spotted smoke coming from across the Kootenai River, signaling another wildlands fire near District 5 and Fleming Creek.

All crews were then rerouted to the second fire that totaled about one-tenth of an acre. According to a report from North Bench Fire, the fire was slow-burning in a mixed fuel location.

Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) arrived and worked with North Bench Fire to establish a fire line.

IDL took over the fire and it was completely extinguished by Monday afternoon, but there are concerns that the many lightning strikes could have started more smoldering fires in other remote location.

“We are anticipating with as much lightning and dry fuel as there was, that there may be holdover fires,” said Ken Homik, Idaho Department of Lands resource supervisor and fire warden,

According to Homik, IDL and the U.S. Forest Service will be sending out planes to detect any smoldering fires.

Due to the recent moisture brought by the multiple storms, the fire danger has been reduced from Very High to High, although Homik said that will change again fairly soon, so people should continue to use caution.