CNF fire managers working in three directions

Fire managers overseeing fire activity on the Clearwater and Nez Perce national forests are working in three directions.

They are suppressing fires, igniting fires (prescribed fires) and managing "wildland fire use" fires started by lightning. They are suppressing unwanted fires that threaten valuable natural resources, homes and communities in rural, forested areas (the "wildland urban interface").

They are igniting prescribed fires under controlled conditions in areas that will experience a number of benefits, including the reduction of dense and hazardous fuel buildup in the backcountry and in the wildland urban interface. Igniting prescribed fire now ensures meeting objectives for the planned burns by taking advantage of summer fuel and weather conditions. Prescribed fire lessens the potential for large wildfires and costly fire fighting efforts in the future. Prescribed fire also creates biological diversity needed by elk and other wildlife and encourages a healthy variety of plants, many of them food sources for wildlife.

Fire managers are managing wildland fire use fires to benefit the land, the wildlife and other resources by letting these natural fires play their important role on the landscape. Generally they burn in the backcountry. Fire managers determine resource objectives for a fire use fire and implement management actions to increase the probability of meeting these resource objectives. More wildland fire use can be allowed and managed as fire managers are able to ignite more prescribed burns. The "mosaic" of large openings in the forested landscape created by prescribed burns and 30 years of allowing fire use in wilderness lessens the potential for large wildfires and helps restore the natural balance in fire-dependent ecosystems.

Current fire conditions include:

North Fork Ranger District

Black Canyon Face Fire: Located 38 miles northeast of Pierce, the fire is approximately 740 acres in size. It fire is located in extremely steep terrain. The whole perimeter of the fire is seeing activity today. A hotshot crew is digging line in Comet Creek, to keep the fire from moving up river toward Hidden Creek Campground. Cooler temperatures are assisting in the suppression activity.

Closures: A section of the North Fork of the Clearwater River along Black Canyon Road (FS Road 250) will be closed to public entry between Elizabeth Creek (mile post 56.8) and Fix Creek (mile post 59.4) due to fire falling snags along the road. The closure will be in place until further notice. The district hopes to have part of the closure lifted by Labor Day weekend.

Middle Black: Prescribed Fire. The Fire Staff has put fire near Buckingham Lake. They lit the ridges using 'ping pong balls' and hand ignition. So far there are about 100 acres burning. There is no really intense activity, but the fire is burning actively. Sandy Creek: Weitas Butte Area, Prescribed Fire - less than 1,000 acres are planned today, the crews are up putting flames on the ground this morning.

Toboggan Ridge: Prescribed Fire shared with Powell Ranger District. Crews are going to use aerial and ground ignition today. The unit goal is 1,700 acres by the end of the season. They expect to light approximately 400-500 acres today.

Closures: Forest Service Road 581 is closed from FS Road 500 (Cayuse Junction) to Toboggan Creek Bridge due to fire activity. Trails 249, 256, 534, 539 and 565 are also closed. The closure will be in place until further notice.

Powell Ranger District

Sponge Fire: Wild Fire Use. This fire is located inside the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area. The fire is approximately 140 acres and backing down in to Sponge and Helix Creeks. Active burning expected today.

Devils Fire: Suppression. The fire is approximately 90 acres. It is located on Lolo Motorway, FS Road 500, below Devils Chair. Due to the low humidity and high temperatures predicted today, crews are expecting some interior activity.

Mocus Point: WFU, it is approximately 1/4 acre.

Big Sand: WFU, this fire is approximately four air miles North East of Elk Summit. It is approximately 25 acres.

Lochsa Ranger District

Lochsa Peak: WFU in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness just east of Lochsa Peak. It is being monitored. The fire is approximately two acres in size and creeping.

Photos: These photos show the Middle Black Prescribed Fire on the North Fork Ranger District. (Photos courtesy of Clearwater National Forest)