Southern Blue Team welcoming crews from Alaska, Canada

This morning the Southern Blue Team managing the Municipal Complex (Municipal, Greer and Fisher fires) welcomes crews from our 50th state of Alaska as well as from our neighbors to the north, Canada.

All three fires on the complex are still burning and producing smoke. While none of these fires are considered contained, Wednesday was a successful day on all three fires making progress in line construction and mop-up. Throughout the day Thursday, the team expects to see some active interior burning, which could make the fires appear more active than they actually are.

Municipal Fire

The Municipal Fire saw no growth Wednesday with 1,750 acres that have been burned. The fire is still estimated to be at 25 percent containment. One of the divisions Wednesday successfully defended a home from creeping fire by installing a dozer line and stopping its advance. Crews successfully monitored the situation through the night. Small pockets of unburned areas will continue to burn Thursday as the fire moves through the interior. Fresh crews from Canada and Alaska will be working on the fire. The local fire departments have done, and continue to do, an outstanding job in fighting this fire and protecting homes and businesses in and around Orofino. Click for the map...

Greer Fire

The Greer Fire near Old Greer Grade on the south side of U.S. Highway 12 is estimated to have covered 73 acres and is estimated to be 85 percent contained. Crews will be mapping this fire Thursday to further substantiate the acreage burned. There are containment lines around the fire and mop-up efforts continue. There is still some heat present and some interior burning may occur throughout the day. Fire fighters are working to get the containment lines more secure before the forecasted cold front moves through Friday. Click for the map...

Fisher Fire

The Fisher Fire is estimated to have covered about 20,000 acres. Although fire fighters have constructed fire line along the southwest corner of the fire, in the upper end of Big Canyon crews have been unable to complete line construction. Operations will continue to make an assessment Thursday of this area in order effect the best plan. Much of the fire perimeter now is in mop-up and patrol status, and the Fisher Fire is currently estimated at 60 percent containment. Thursday the Fisher fire welcomes a fresh crew from neighboring Canada as well as two crews from Alaska. Click for the map...

See a map of the entire complex...

Weather for Thursday is expected to be mostly sunny, with smoke filled valleys. Relative humidity is expected to be 10-20 percent in the valleys, 20-29 percent on the ridges. Highs for today are expected to approach 95 degrees. Winds this morning are expected to be 5-15 miles per hour out of the West, increasing to 15-25 mph later in the day. For more detailed information visit www.clearwatercounty.org.