Inversion holding smoke in Clearwater River valleys

A predicted warming and drying trend began Sunday, but the inversion layer did not lift as expected in the afternoon.

That left the Clearwater River valleys filled with smoke all day and prevented aerial resources from being used on the fire. Area temperatures reached the mid-80s, and relative humidity ranged between 14 and 19 percent.

Day and night crews continued to secure fire line along the northern, eastern and southern perimeters of the Lolo Branch fires and to mop up to a depth of 100 feet. Burning operations and line construction have removed available fuel from the most active parts of the fire, though spotting beyond the line remains a possibility. Crews are patrolling the areas where this potential is greatest and suppressing spot fires as they are discovered.

Monday, crews will continue to take advantage of favorable weather and subdued fire activity to strengthen fire lines that are protecting the communities of Woodland, Weippe, Harrisburg, Caribel, Kamiah and Kooskia. Fuels are still dry and humidity is low, though the probability of torching beyond existing fire lines is reduced with each day's work.

The inversion that has trapped smoke in the Clearwater River valleys and even in higher-elevation areas is expected to lift about 11 a.m. Monday, and southwest winds should move much of the smoke to the east, according to incident meteorologist Makato Moore.

"It'll be another hot and dry day," he said, though the extended forecast suggests dry thunderstorms could move into the area by Wednesday. People adversely affected by the smoke can find information about how to mitigate health hazards at http://www.deq.idaho.gov/media/347954-wildfire_smoke_health_fs.pdf.

An information center is operational at the Idaho Department of Lands in Kamiah. For fire information and updates, visit http://inciweb.nwcg.gov or call (406) 309-0371 or (208) 507-2621.