Wildfire Alert: Parkway Fire – Current as of 10:00 AM PT on 8/7/2023

Idaho Department of Lands sent this bulletin at 08/07/2023 11:20 AM MDT

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Containment Fortified Overnight, Firefighters Focus Today on Expanding Containment

Post Falls, Idaho – Fire officials report the 80-acre Parkway Fire remains 50% contained. Overnight, crews made considerable progress in strengthening containment along the eastern edge of the fire near structures, mopping up a swath nearly 100’ wide from the edge of the fire towards the interior along nearly half of the incident’s perimeter.

In addition to the safety of civilians and firefighters, today’s focus includes expanding containment by mopping up more areas within the perimeter and falling hazard trees in burned areas.

“In the aftermath of a wildfire, trees are weakened by fire and snags can fall at any time, injuring or killing people on the ground,” said Parkway Fire incident commander Nate Rogers. “On steep ground, hazard trees that fall or shed limbs can imperil lives in their pathway.”

There are other hidden dangers in burned areas, too.

“Fires often burn stumps deep into the ground, creating fall and trip hazards,” added Rogers. “While precipitation on a fire is a blessing, rocky areas can become slick, and rocks can fall on slopes destabilized by fire.”

Collaboration with local partners remains a priority, too.

“We’re sharing GIS data about the fire with the City of Post Falls’s Parks & Recreation Department so they can assess the impact of the fire on trail systems,” said Rogers. “We’re also working closely with the Post Falls Police Department to help ensure whoever started this fire is held accountable for its considerable suppression costs.”

The Post Falls Police Department issued a news release about their investigation earlier today.

Yesterday the Post Falls Police Department closed Q’emiln Park and the Post Falls Community Forest to the public. The Post Falls Highway District has installed barricades on Riverview Drive. Although the road is open for local traffic, fire officials remind onlookers to avoid using it. Slow moving fire equipment on Riverview Drive stops frequently and may block the road.

The next update for the Parkway Fire will publish this evening.

Find Information About the Parkway Fire

IDL Wildfire Alerts – https://www.idl.idaho.gov/alerts
IDL Fire News Feed – https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire
Kootenai County Emergency Management Website – https://www.kcsheriff.com/186/Emergency-Management
Kootenai County Emergency Management Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kootenaiOEM/
Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KootenaiCountyFireandRescue/

View the location of the Parkway Fire on IDL’s Idaho Fire Map

https://gis1.idl.idaho.gov/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=49bc88dc5e144ae2b3cd60a726168377&extent=-13022089.528%2C6056466.3977%2C-13020298.0351%2C6057899.592%2C102100

Incident Contact

Scott Phillips

Public Information Officer

208-713-6487

Most wildfires are caused by humans. Be part of the solution – learn how!

· Be aware of and follow all fire restrictions

· During closed burn season, before burning debris apply for a free burn permit – it’s the law

· Use campfires safely by staying clear of flammable debris and burning on mineral soil

· Maintain vehicles and OHVs properly – especially their tires - so you don’t spark a fire

· Secure trailer chains so they don’t drag and cause a fire

· Never park over dry grass because hot exhaust systems can start a fire

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For the most current information about wildfires on land protected by the Idaho Department of Lands, please visit https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-news-feed/.

Idaho Department of Lands in partnership with two Timber Protection Associations and with the support of rural volunteer fire departments and other partners, provides fire suppression and prevention on more than 9 million acres of state and private forests and rangelands in Idaho. IDL focuses on initial attack with the goal of keeping fires at 10 acres or less. IDL protects and preserves important endowment timber assets that help fund Idaho schools and other beneficiaries, as well as millions of acres of private forestland.

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