| Smoke
starting to show up
Wildfire smoke is heavy in the surrounding area, and even though there are no fires in the immediate area causing the smoke, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) fire managers are reminding the public of the increased wildfire risk that is present now that conditions are getting hotter and drier. The only active fire in the Grangeville Dispatch Zone is burning within the wilderness on the Lochsa River. Other fires that may be contributing to smoke in the area are burning in Washington on the Touchet River and in Odessa. In Oregon, there was a fire burning near Pendleton. There also is a fire in Montana near Hamilton. “The smoke we are experiencing right now may not be coming from fires in our area, but it is a reminder to be careful not to accidentally start a wildfire when you are working or playing in the outdoors,” IDL Maggie Creek Supervisory Area Manager Zoanne Anderson said. “We are nearing the peak of fire season, and we also need the public’s help staying vigilant and reporting wildfires to 9-1-1 as soon as possible.” The first significant fire of the 2016 season across IDL districts was the Clear Creek 2 Fire managed by the IDL Maggie Creek Forest Protective District in Kamiah. The 457-acre fire was threatening structures when it first started on Thursday but was declared fully contained by Saturday. Ten IDL forest protective districts and two timber protective associations protect more than 6 million acres across much of north central and northern Idaho. |
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