New starts near Tenmile fire prompt pre-evacuation orders

A series of lightning strikes Saturday started five new fires northeast of the Tenmile fire, three of which have been named the Sterling Complex and are being managed together with the Tenmile fire.

As a result, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday issued a pre-evacuation order for residents near Edna Creek, Lake Creek, Sutton Ridge and Swamp Creek roads.

Residents in those areas need to be prepared to evacuate on short notice with important belongings, pets and medicine, according to a release from the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team.

In addition, crews and equipment have been shifted and assigned to all the fires.

The Tenmile fire, about 19 miles southwest of Eureka, had grown to an estimated 679 acres in size and was 30 percent contained as of Monday morning, according to an incident report.

In the Sterling Complex, the Pinkham Tower fire was 333 acres and the Huckleberry/Cliff fire 211 acres. Both were zero percent contained Monday morning.

Crews built a line around a lightning start north of the Pinkham Tower fire and kept it small, the report states.

In the Edna Creek, Lake Creek and Swamp Creek areas, plans called for firefighters in the structure group to visit private property owners and gather information for structure defense plans.

Crews on the Tenmile and Swamp Creek fires were to continue to mop up hot spots and holding the fire lines.

Crews on the Huckleberry/Cliff fire were to look for places to access and attack the fire.

Crews assigned to the Pinkham Tower planned to open access routes and identify where to establish fire lines.

Priority for aircraft support will be on the Pinkham Tower fire.

The Kootenai National Forest has closed more nearby roads and trails. Details are at www.fs.usda.gov/kootenai/.

For up-to-date information on evacuations, call 406-293-6295.