Sunny. High around 85F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..
Clear skies. Low 53F. Winds light and variable.
Photo: Idaho Department of Lands
North flank of Prospect Fire. Photo my Mike McManus.
Photo: Idaho Dept. of Lands
Photo: Idaho Department of Lands
North flank of Prospect Fire. Photo my Mike McManus.
Photo: Idaho Dept. of Lands
**Fire Update (9/9/22) at 8:00 a.m.**
HARVARD - The Prospect Fire remains at 286 acres with five percent containment. Officials say firefighters have worked "incredibly hard" to keep the fire within the constructed lines to protect high value industrial timber on both public and private lands. The fire is burning near the junction of Meadow Creek and Prospect Creek, north of Harvard, and about 10 miles to the northeast of Potlatch.
On Thursday crews continued the arduous process of mopping up into the fire’s interior, locating and extinguishing hot spots. This work will continue until a mop up standard of 100 feet into the interior is achieved. Containment is declared when fire managers are 100% confident that burning internal fuels cannot ignite any fuel source outside the fireline. Given this season’s hot and dry conditions, with limited precipitation, and erratic winds, fire managers are cautious to announce containment percentages.
While fire behavior has been minimal with creeping and smoldering over the past several days, a wind shift has been forecasted to come out of the east, the opposite of all wind direction over the fire so far, with associated wind gusts of 30 m.p.h. which may increase fire behavior and test control lines on the west side of the fire for the first time, according to officials.
Preemptively, fire managers have brought in fire crews and resources to support any additional efforts that may be required. 90% of the firefighting resources on the Prospect Fire are State of Idaho contracted resources. Having contractors at the ready allows the Idaho Department of Lands to quicken the pace of mop up and aggressively fight fire with the equipment and personnel needed to do so.
Currently there are no road or area closures; caution when driving near the fire area is strongly advised. Roads are narrow and winding with blind curves and steep drop offs. Logging and fire equipment are very large, very heavy, and have less maneuverability than standard vehicles. Please use alternative routes to avoid the area if possible.
**Fire Update (9/8/22) at 8:00 a.m.**
HARVARD - Officials say the hard work of firefighters over the past several days paid off as they successfully held the Prospect Fire without any new fire growth. The Prospect Fire remains at 286 acres with five percent containment. The predicted weather event did not materialize as anticipated, and while it was windy and extremely dry, a cloud cover kept fire activity low on Wednesday.
Firefighters were able to get hose lays and water delivery systems around the entire fire perimeter. Firelines were strengthened, and where they could, crews began the arduous process of mopping up into the fire’s interior; extinguishing any hot spots that could reignite and cross over the fireline into unburned fuels.
Excess heavy equipment was released from the incident yesterday to be available for other emerging incidents in need.
On Thursday fire crews will work to increase containment by reinforcing the constructed line. Mop up will continue along the perimeter 25 feet into the interior of the fire. Like recreational campfires, firefighters check with bare hands for residual heat and drown, stir, and repeat until cold. Aviation resources are available if needed.
Currently there are no road or area closures, however this is continually re-assessed, and the public will be informed as changes occur.
**Fire Update (9/7/22) at 8:00 a.m.**
HARVARD - The Prospect Fire experienced limited fire growth yesterday and, as of Wednesday morning, was estimated at 286 acres in size with five percent containment. The Idaho Department of Lands says the fire is burning near the junction of Meadow Creek and Prospect Creek, north of Harvard, and about 10 miles to the northeast of Potlatch.
Officials say recent fire behavior included short-range spotting and single tree torching. However, firefighters were successful in keeping the fire checked within the established perimeter along the north edge and out of Forest Service lands. Crews have made excellent progress tying together a combination of mechanical line, roads, and handlines around the fire’s perimeter, say officials. Aviation resources assisted ground forces with bucket water drops allowing for direct engagement of the fire.
On Wednesday, officials say fire crews will again work to construct indirect fire lines, strengthening and reinforcing the constructed fireline with hose lays, pumps, and sprinklers to bring water to the fire edge, and in some areas, begin the mop up process along firelines where containment has been achieved. Patrolling for spot fires in efforts to quickly extinguish and mop up will continue as expected windy conditions push embers toward the east. Aviation resources will be available to deliver water if needed.
Critical fire weather conditions with Red Flag warnings are in effect for Wednesday.
Currently there are no road or area closures, however this is continually re-assessed, and the public will be informed as changes occur.
**Fire Update (9/6/22) at 8:00 a.m.**
MOSCOW - According to a Tuesday morning update from officials, the Prospect Fire is now estimated at 250 acres with zero percent containment. The fire continues to burn exclusively on industrial timber land. The Idaho Department of Lands says the fire is burning near the junction of Meadow Creek and Prospect Creek, northeast of Moscow.
Officials say retardant drops have successfully kept the northern edge of the fire perimeter from expanding into Forest Service ownership. Dozer operators completed mechanical line along the western edge as ground crews tracked down and extinguished spot fires created by strong westerly winds. The fire continues to back down the Prospect Creek drainage toward the fire scar of the 2019 Prospect Fire.
On Tuesday fire crews will work to complete indirect fire lines around the fire perimeter, say officials. These indirect firelines are often referred to as “the big box.” As firefighter and public safety are always the number one priority when determining fire suppression strategies, this tactic allows for the removal of fuels ahead of the fire’s advancement while providing for the safety of the crew.
As fuels change, so too does fire behavior. Firefighters have been successful in controlling fire growth in areas where the fuel type changes from logging slash to standing timber. The live trees coupled with retardant lowers the intensity of the fire and allows firefighters access to construct handlines and directly engage the fire.
Critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening resulting in poor humidity recovery overnight. This may cause high elevation fires to burn actively through the night. Gusty winds during the daytime could cause current fire behavior to increase in intensity.
Currently there are no road or area closures, however this is continually re-assessed, and the public will be informed as changes occur.
**Fire Update (9/5/22) at 9:00 a.m.**
Monday at 6:00 a.m. the North Idaho Type 3 Incident Management Team 2 assumed command of the Prospect Fire. Idaho Department of Lands resources were able to locate and determine the cause of the fire to be a single tree lightning strike from the storm that passed through the area late Saturday afternoon.
The Idaho Department of Lands says the fire is burning near the junction of Meadow Creek and Prospect Creek, northeast of Moscow. The fire is estimated to be 200 acres, and at this time, is zero percent contained. The fire is burning on industrial timber land in an area where a completed forest operation had occurred, and heavy logging slash was collected and waiting for the fall burning season in accordance with Idaho’s Forest Practices Act.
The fire grew on Sunday as slash piles and heavy fuels continued to ignite. The intensity of the burning did not allow for direct ground engagement by fire crews, however fixed wing aviation resources were very successful in providing support to ground forces with both retardant and water drops. This allowed firefighters to begin construction of mechanical line with heavy equipment and scouting opportunities for direct engagement of the fire.
Fire crews remained on scene throughout the night to monitor the fire’s behavior and take action as necessary.
As of Monday morning, there were communities or structures threatened. The public is asked to stay clear of the area to provide for the safety of fire crews and the large heavy equipment required to successfully fight this fire.
Currently there are no road or area closures, however officials say this is continually re-assessed, and the public will be informed as changes occur.
**Fire Update (9/4/22) at 11:30 a.m.**
MOSCOW - On Sunday morning, the Idaho Department of Lands provided an update on the Prospect Fire, burning near the junction of Meadow Creek and Prospect Creek, northeast of Moscow.
According to the IDL, the fire grew overnight to an estimated 75-100 acres, up from the initial fire size of 10-20 acres. No structures are threatened at this time. The fire is burning in private industrial timberlands and logging slash.
Fire officials say the fire is expected to remain extremely active throughout the day on Sunday as it is burning heavy logging slash.
Note: “Slash” is the term used for branches and debris generated during logging operations that remain after trees are harvested.
As of 11:30 a.m. Sunday morning, there are approximately 100 people assigned to the fire. Aircraft are also on scene assisting with support operations.
A Type 3 Incident Management Team led by Incident Commander Mike McManus has been ordered and will take over the fire at 6:00a.m. Monday morning.
The official cause of the fire, which was first reported around 4:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon, remains under investigation.
MOSCOW - On Saturday afternoon, multiple fire units responded to a wildland fire burning private industrial timberlands and logging slash near the Junction of Meadow Creek and Prospect Creek northeast of Moscow, ID.
According to a report from the Idaho Department of Lands, the Prospect Fire was last estimated to be 10-20 acres in size. The fire was first reported around 4:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
As of 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening, six engines, two hand crews, two dozers and a helicopter were working to suppress the fire with an aggressive attack.
No structures are at risk, however there is active logging in the area and valuable timber is at risk. There are no evacuations in place. The IDL asks that the public stay out of the area for safety.
The IDL says that lightning storms did come through the area around the time of the fire, but the official cause remains under investigation.
No evacuations. Please stay out of the area for safety. Fire is burning in private industrial timberlands and logging slash.
Sunny. High 84F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Clear skies. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
A mainly sunny sky. High 91F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
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