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Clark Fork Complex fires expand to 14,800 acres; Idaho Panhandle closures listed

Wildfire related access closures on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest on Aug. 28, 2015. (U.S. Forest Service)
Wildfire related access closures on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest on Aug. 28, 2015. (U.S. Forest Service)

WILDFIRES -- The Clark Fork Complex of fires located in northern Idaho near Clark Fork includes Scotchman Peak (1,920 acres), Whitetail (1,734 acres) , Marten (2, 033 acres) Fires east of Lake Pend Oreille plus six fires in the Kootenai NF in Montana. 

A new emergency Forest closure order closed the 332 Road, the 1066 Road, and 10210 Road at the intersection with the 332 Road in addition to previous trail closures, including the poplar Scotchman Peak Trail.

IDAHO PANHANDLE WILDFIRE INFORMATION:

National fire information website:  www.inciweb.nwcg.gov                      

Closure details: www.fs.usda.gov/ipnf

Restriction information:  http://idahofireinfo.blogspot.com/  or http://firerestrictions.us/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USFSIPNF

Hunting and fishing information: (208) 334-2592 https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/fire

Following is closure information listed in Idaho Panhandle Wildfires update on Aug. 30, 2015:

TEMPORARY WILFIRE EMERGENCY CLOSURES ON IDAHO PANHANDLE NF

The following emergency closures are in place. See the Idaho Panhandle National Forest website for the full text and map of each closure. The public is prohibited to go into or be upon these areas, roads and trails:

§  Priest Lake Ranger District (RD) - Due to Upper Priest Fire: Road 1013 north of Lime Creek. Trail #308 and Trail #28. (Road Closure and Trail Closure)

Due to Tower Fire : An area closure has been established for the area contained within the following boundaries: north of Bear Paw Road and Forest Road 305, west of HWY 57, south of Dickensheet and Forest Road 310, and east of the Idaho Panhandle NF/Colville NF boundary between Hungry Mountain and the junction of Forest Roads 305 and 306. Please see the following map for more detailed boundaries. A portion of the Newport Ranger District of the Colville National Forest is closed.  

§  Bonners Ferry RD - Due to Parker Ridge Fire:  Parker Creek Trail #14, Long Canyon Trail #16 and Parker Ridge Trail #221. Previously closed trails remain closed. They include Parker Ridge Trail #221 (Sections 7 and 8 of T64N, R1W and sections 12, 13, 14, 15, 2, and 27 of R2W) and the Fisher Peak Trail. Under this closure order, the public is prohibited to go into or be upon this trail.

§  Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene River RD - Due to  Clark Fork Complex (Scotchman Peak and Whitetail Fires): The Scotchman Peak wildfire emergency closure has expanded significantly. Please see the Closure Order and Map on the Forest website for specific boundaries, roads and trails

§  Coeur d’Alene River RD –Due to the increasing number of wildfires in the area and concern for public safety, a temporary emergency wildfire closure has been issued for all public lands north of I-90, south of Forest Road 332, east of Highway 95 and west of the Idaho/Montana border. This emergency closure includes all National Forest System lands, Bureau of Land Management lands, and state endowment forest lands within the described boundaries. EFFECTIVE SUNDAY, 12:01 AM AUGUST 30.

Due to Solitare Fire: All lands, trails and forest roads within T52N - R1W sections 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and T53N - R1W sections 32, 33, 34. Forest Trails 1525 (Solitaire Creek 4WD) and 6728 (Sob Creek 4WD).

Due to Whitetail Fire: Forest Roads #430, #332, #332A, #203, #203A, #203B, #203E, and #1533. Forest Trails #20 (Coeur d'Alene River NRT), 52 (Alden Creek), #448 (Deer Creek), #77, #122. There are also large area closures described in the closure order and map. (

§  St. Joe RD– Avery Complex (Crater, Marble Creek, and Chicadee Fires) and Snow Peak Complex

  • Due to Marble Creek Fire and Crater Fire: This closure area encompasess a large portion of the St. Joe Ranger District and nearby BLM and industrial timber lands. The closure area generally encompasses the areas surrounding Marble Creek, the Hobo Cedar Grove, Grandfather Mountain, Last Inch Camp, Crater Peak, Outlaw Point, Flemming Peak, and all lands in between. For specific closure areas please see the Closure Order and Map.

  • Due to Snow Peak Complex: This closure area encompasses a large portion of the St. Joe Ranger District bordering the Nez Perce Clearwater NF. The closure includes the Snow Peak area, Granite Peak area, Ruby Point area and the Yankee Peak area. Please see map for specific closure boundaries.

  • Due to Breezy Chicadee  -This closure area ties together the Marble Creek and Snow Peak emergency wildfire closures areas. For specific closure boundaries, please see the Closure Order and Map on the website.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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