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900 W. Main St.,
PO Box 690 Grangeville, ID 83530
Phone: 208.983.1200 |
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| Wildfires being managed for ecosystem |
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| Fire update, Aug. 30, on Nez Perce, Clearwater |
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By ICFP editor - David Rauzi
Multiple wildfires are being managed and allowed to burn for ecosystem management purposes in wilderness areas on the Nez Perce and Clearwater national forests.
Looking ahead, chance for further fire starts is lower this week as forecasts call for cooler weather and increased chances for precipitation, according to Bob Lippincott, Clearwater-Nez Perce Zone fire staff officer. The signs show fall is right around the corner as USFS lookouts at elevations higher than 6,000 feet last Saturday night reported receiving around an inch of snow.
Three fires -- Cache, 400 acres; Bleak, 15 acres; and Saddle Fire, three acres -- were reported within the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Of these, plans are to manage the Cache Fire as it approaches the Montana (Magruder) Road to provide for public and firefighter safety, and allow for public access.
"We're closely monitoring all these," Lippincott said, "and if activity picks up on the Cache we have plans in place to manage the fire along the road."
Last Thursday's Fitness Fire, near the Red River Ranger Station, was stopped at 15 acres. This human-caused fire is currently under investigation.
Northeast of Anderson Butte on the Moose Creek Ranger District, the Little Boulder Fire is about 60 acres. Due to the extremely steep terrain and high amount of fuels, the fire is being allowed to burn and is being monitored.
Explosive growth was seen in the Dodge Fire, located six mines southeast of Warm Springs Creek in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. This Aug. 12 lightning-caused fire grew from three to 1,225 acres in winds from last Thursday's storm.
Within the Larkins Complex of five fires, the largest, Heather Creek, grew 1,000 acres on last Thursday to reach 2,100 acres, due to gusty winds and low humidities. This is burning in the Collins Creek drainage east of the Mallard-Larkins Pioneer area. The other complex fires range from one to 17 acres in size.
In conjunction with naturally caused blazes, the Forest Service will be conducting prescribed burns in the coming weeks depending on favorable weather conditions. One currently under way, Pollock Ridge, 15 miles east-northeast of Kelly Forks Works Center, is at about 700 acres on a total 6,800-acre unit. This will burn fuels and bug-kill fir, allowing for new growth to establish.
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