Municipal Complex stays within control lines, despite gusty winds

The wind event Saturday, with gusts up to 25 miles per hour, did not breach any control lines or create any significant new fires within the complex Saturday.

Fire managers received many calls reporting smoke, and one call turned out to be a new start on the Municipal Complex. The fire was southwest of Orofino, on Miller Road. Initial attack crews supporting Idaho Department of Lands were able to get a fireline around it quickly and contain it at nine acres. They continued to mop up these areas Sunday.

The windstorm tested firelines and blew ash off hot spots that had been smoldering for days. The amount of rain was minimal, but more is expected in some areas Sunday. The forecast calls for cooler temperatures and a good chance for a wetting rain in some areas. This will help fire suppression efforts overall and eventually clear out the smoke in the valleys.

Five miles east of Pierce on the Motorway North Complex, crews continued to work on the Lost Hat and the Musselshell fires. Saturday, erratic winds created dangerous conditions for crews assigned to the Lost Hat Fire. Falling trees threatened their safety, and they were reassigned to another portion of the incident. They will return to the fire Sunday and continue mopping up and strengthening firelines. It will also be a good opportunity to evaluate the current dozer line and make improvements to secure it.

Some of the strongest winds occurred on the Clearwater Complex. Firefighters worked on hot spots and flare-ups behind residences in Kamiah. Access on Carrot Ridge Rd. was impacted by a fallen tree.

Gusty winds also rekindled a few hot spots along Upper Fords Creek Rd. near Orofino. No increase in fire activity occurred on the Fisher and Old Greer fires. Firefighters will continue to patrol and check on all the fires in the complex.

Due to public safety concerns, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest officials have closed a large swath of the forest for public use. The closures are listed at http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nezperceclearwater/alerts-notices.

Information on the upcoming hunting seasons and areas with limited access may be found on the Idaho Fish and Game site: https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/fire. The phone number is 208-344-3700.

The Idaho Transportation Department encourages travelers to plan ahead by logging on to 511.idaho.gov or dialing 5-1-1. Information on road closures is available 24 hours per day. Please contact ITD or your local county sheriff's office for road conditions.

The Southern Area Blue Team continues to manage the Clearwater-Municipal-Motorway North Complex. Fire information updates will be issued under this name. Visit www.facebook.com/centralidahofires for information on Central Idaho fires or http://inciweb.nwcg.gov.