Scotch Creek and Katka Peak Fire update and evacuation status
BOUNDARY COUNTY — Residents along Westside Road have been advised to prepare for potential evacuation in connection to the nearby Scotch Fire.
Currently there are six wilderness fires in Boundary County, as of 8 a.m. Friday, with the Scotch Creek and Katka Peak fires being the highest priority for fire rescue resources due to their proximity to residential areas.
Residents living on Westside Road were told Thursday night that the area had been upgraded to the “Set” stage of evacuation preparation due to observed spot fires in the area caused by the Scotch Fire. The fire is burning in the Ball Creek drainage about 2-3 miles from Westside Road.
“Set” is the last stage of readiness before an actual evacuation takes place. Under the status, residents are advised to at least gather their evacuation supplies together and pre-load them into their vehicles to enable a quick exit if evacuation is advised.
Residents in “Set” preparations are also advised to take final steps to make their homes less vulnerable to wildfire such as cleaning debris from gutters, removing flammables from around the home, and shutting all windows.
The Kakta area above the lookout and Two Tail Road have advanced to the “Ready” stage. “Ready” stage of the “Ready, Set, Go” evacuation planning stages advises residents to plan where they will go for a few days if evacuated, to be packed and ready, to think about what evacuation route they will take, make sure their vehicles are fueled, and to have a plan for pets and livestock.
During the “Go” stage of evacuation, there will be door-to-door knocking by law enforcement and firefighters advising them they need to leave as well as, contact by telephone and Nixle text notifications.
Sparked by lightning, the Scotch Fire is estimated to be about 45 acres in size. U.S. Forest Service and North Bench Fire District firefighters have closely monitored the fire overnight to respond quickly to any spot fires that may arise, officials said.
North Bench officials reported on social media that throughout last night and early morning hours, firefighters conducted patrols from the Refuge to Trout Creek.
“This was in cooperation with Hall Mountain Fire assisting our neighbors to the north,” officials announced on social media.
These patrols began at 10 p.m. and a new crew swapped out every two hours and continued through 8 a.m.
There was also a crew on standby to respond for structure protection in the event it was needed. District officials also relocated several of their apparatus from outlining firehouses to their main house to improve their response times through this incident.
To sign up for Nixle text alerts from the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office text “83805” to the phone number 888777.
Boundary County Emergency Information Hotline is: 208-696-2626. Updates to any emergencies in the county, including evacuations and when it is safe to return from an evacuation, will be in a recorded message on this hotline. Put it in your contacts so you have it handy.
As a reminder, civilian drones are not allowed around active fires. Flying drones near an emergency scene is against the law and will interfere with firefighting aircraft, working against the firefighters on scene.
NOTES
Fire update
Boundary County
Public Information
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1 Sep 2022
USFS Fighting Wildland Fires on Katka Peak and Scotch Creek – Pre-Evacuation Notices Being Made
U.S. Forest Service firefighters are currently battling two new wildland fires in Boundary County that were started by lightning strikes Wednesday night, August 31st. A fire on Katka Peak has grown to more than 30 acres and is within a mile and a half from the closest residential structures on Katka Road. A second fire has also been discovered in the Ball Creek drainage near Scotch Creek, which is burning approximately three miles from residential areas.
No homes are immediately threatened by either of the new fires, but Boundary County Emergency Management is working with the Sheriff’s Office to provide pre-evacuation notifications to residents on Katka Road from the overlook area up to the top, and also on Two-Tail Road in case conditions change on the Katka Fire. Residents on Westside Road from Ball Creek south to Burton Creek are also being notified to be in “Ready” status in case conditions change on the Scotch Fire. Notices are being made via telephone and door-to-door.
“Ready” stage of the “Ready, Set, Go” evacuation planning stages advises residents to plan where they will go for a few days if evacuated, to be packed and ready, to think about what evacuation route they will take, make sure their vehicles are fueled, and to have a plan for pets and livestock.
U.S. Forest Service is attacking the fires using aircraft to keep them from spreading in the direction of homes. If residents are advised in the future to advance to “Set” or advised to evacuate in “Go” stage they will be notified via Nixle alerts or by firefighters and law enforcement going door-to-door.
To sign up for Nixle text alerts from the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office text “83805” to the phone number 888777.
As a reminder, civilian drones are not allowed around active fires. Flying drones near an emergency scene is against the law and will interfere with firefighting aircraft, working against the firefighters on scene.