North Bench responds to fire caused by lightning strike
(Photo courtesy of North Bench Fire Department)
(Photo courtesy of North Bench Fire Department)
(Photo courtesy of North Bench Fire Department) Firefighters performing cold trailing Pictured: BFFD Firefighter Solt, NBFD Chief Jackson (white helmet), NBFD Firefighter Hurst
(Photo courtesy of North Bench Fire Department) Firefighters digging a fire line around the Sandy Fire Pictured: NBFD Firefighter Hurst, NBFD Firefighter Chaney (red helmet) NBFD Trainee Doyle (blue helmet), NBFD Firefighter Kelly.
BONNERS FERRY — North Idaho braced for a strong thunderstorm on Tuesday, June 15, that required North Bench Fire to respond to a wildland fire in the area of Chippewa Street.
Initially, dispatch reported at 6 a.m. that the fire was within city limits, but as crews arrived, it was identified that the fire was outside city limits and in North Bench’s jurisdiction.
Multiple emergency trucks and a command vehicle responded to the fire with support from Bonners Ferry, Paradise Valley and South Boundary Fire Departments.
Crews were able to quickly contain the fire to within a tenth of an acre; the cause of the fire was found to be a lightning strike.
According to North Bench Fire Chief Gus Jackson, the crews were well prepared for the storm and the potential calls to respond even in the morning.
The fire departments have dealt with fires at weird hours, but this particular call was an odd situation.
North Bench was aware of the Chippewa fire before being told that the fire fell within their jurisdiction and was ready if the fire expanded outside city limits.
The initial reports of the fire showed that it was small enough and manageable because the weather wasn’t arid. However, the excess pine brush did require over 350 gallons of water to make sure the fire was controlled but contained.
Jackson detailed that safety is always a concern. He contacted the National Weather Service in Spokane about any potential storm cells as they contained the fires, stressing the need for proper safety measures for the crew’s best interest and ability to contain the fire.
The wildland fire didn’t show significant spread potential, and although a lightning strike caused the fire, it isn’t the first experience the fire crew had with dealing with such incidents.
On April 17, Boundary County emergency responders participated in a multiagency command and coordination radio exercise that helped deal with this fire, according to Jackson.
The exercise was designed to evaluate the county’s ability to direct, coordinate and control a multiagency emergency response across multiple jurisdictions.
“It was a great response by everybody,” Jackson said.
