Kootenai Forest contends with 14 new wildfires

The Kootenai National Forest added 14 new fires Saturday to its growing list that totals 49 wildfires that have started since Aug. 1.

Lightning raked the forest Friday night, igniting new fire starts.

The largest fire — the Marston Fire near Trego — had grown to 1,500 to 1,800 acres as of Saturday afternoon, according to Kootenai National Forest Public Information Officer Willie Sykes.

The Mount Marston Lookout still is in danger of being overtaken by flames.

A Type 2 Incident Team that arrived at the Weigel Fire on Thursday will take over management of the Marston Fire this morning as it has grown into the priority. Ground crews were taken off the Marston Fire on Wednesday as it rapidly grew and powered up the steep sides of Mount Marston.

There will be a community meeting about the Marston Fire at 7 p.m. today at the Trego Community Hall. Agency administrators, fire management personnel and public information staff will provide up-to-date information on the fire.

Crews refreshed the fire-resistant wrapping applied to the lookout on Saturday afternoon.

The Marston Fire is easily visible from U.S. 93.  

The Weigel Fire is currently listed at 100 acres, while the Dunn Fire has reached 75 acres. Both fires have been 50 percent contained. Two 20-person crews, 14 engines, four bulldozers and 122 personnel are currently involved in the firefighting efforts on those fires.

Mop-up has begun on the Dunn Fire as crews move farther into the central burn area.

Nearby, a 30-acre fire in the West Kootenai area called the Pinto Point Fire is burning in the vicinity of several small timber sales and the Barnaby Fire is visible from Eureka city limits. Barnaby has covered 6 to 8 acres.

The Swamp Creek Fire near Rexford and Fortine is just three miles from private property and has become a top priority for firefighters.

Trout Creek has the most fires of all the districts on the Kootenai at this time so the local Type 3 Team has been assigned to this area, with priority being the Star Gulch Fire and three fires dubbed Napoleon 1, 2 and 3.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.