Davis fire acreage, Porcupine fire containment increase
This photo from earlier in the week shows some of the damage caused by the Davis fire. (Courtesy U.S. Forest Service/Kootenai National Forest)
A U.S. Forest Service crew from Eureka hikes to the fireline of the Porcupine fire earlier this week. (Courtesy U.S. Forest Service/Kootenai National Forest)
The Davis fire grew in acreage and the Porcupine in percent contained since Tuesday, as the the Type II Incident Management Team overseeing both fires began moving resources from the latter to the former.
Late Thursday, the Davis fire was reported at 380 acres — up from 375 — and 20 percent contained, and the Porcupine at 17 acres and 95 percent contained, up from 75 percent.
Located 10 miles northwest of Yaak, the Davis fire was reported to be most active on its western edge.
“Firefighters continue to suppress hot spots as they ‘pop up,’” states an incident report. “Hand crews are building handline through dense timber on steep terrain along the western edge. Where terrain is less steep, crews are using a complement of equipment to open roads.”
The report states that spot fires will most likely emerge at the fire’s northern edge, which is “‘holding’ the most heat,” and that “heavy equipment and hand crews will continue to improve the roads on the north and southern boundaries, while extending the southern line further west.”
Helicopters are being used to drop water on hot spots, the report states.
Forest Service Road 338 beyond Beetle Creek Road is closed, as are a number of trails. A full closure list can be viewed at www.fs.usda.gov/kootenai/.
The Porcupine fire is 15 miles west of Eureka.
Officials expected temperatures to rise and humidity to drop, causing fuels to continue to dry out and fire activity to increase.