Wildfire Alert: Gwen Fire – Current as of 9:00 AM PT on 7/28/24

Idaho Department of Lands sent this bulletin at 07/28/2024 11:17 AM MDT

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GWEN FIRE UPDATE

July 28, 2024, 9 a.m. PT

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team Three

Bill Waln, Incident Commander

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team Three (RM CIMT3) assumed command of the Gwen Fire this morning at 6 a.m. PT

Location: 5 miles east Lapwai, Idaho Date Reported: July 24, 2024 Cause: Lightning

Size: 35,402 acres Containment: 0% Total Personnel: 182

RM CIMT Three and the cooperating agencies for the Gwen Fire are planning a community meeting on Monday, July 29, 2024. Time and place for the meeting are to be determined and provided later today.

Current Situation:

• Operations are integrating with the local and current firefighter resources today to reinforce the great work begun by the local landowners and emergency responders.

• Public and firefighter’s safety remain a top priority while crews work to protect values at risk including homes, farmland, and cultural sites.

• The Idaho Panhandle Hotshots are working in conjunction with heavy equipment to construct direct and indirect firelines to keep the fire east of Spalding, and Catholic Creek, and south of the communities of Julietta and Kendrick, and west of the communities of Amos Bench and Bedrock Canyon.

• Team Three is working diligently with local law enforcement and Idaho Department of Transportation to reopen Highway 12 as quickly as possible.

• Team Three will also be assisting Rockcreek Fire crews with logistical and operational support. Rockcreek Fire is a very remote fire located approximately 16 miles southwest of Keuterville ID.

Evacuations: Level 1 Get Ready; Level 2 Get Set; Level 3 Go. For the safety of responders please Go if asked to leave. The fire behavior is very unpredictable and life threatening.

• Latah County Sheriff’s Office Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders for multiple areas of the fire. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/LatahCountySO and call: (208) 882-2216

• Nez Perce County Sheriff’s office has issued level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations orders for their county. Those are posted on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NezPerceCountySheriffsOffice.

• Nez Perce County Emergency Management Interactive Evacuation Map: https://bit.ly/3yewVv0

Air Quality Information: Please visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ for resources on smoke and air quality. Air quality monitors indicate unhealthy for sensitive groups in the Lapwai area.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Continued hot and dry conditions with very low relative humidity. General winds from the west at 7-15 mph are predicted, but terrain will affect local wind direction and speed. Very active fire behavior can be expected with an increase in fire spread.

Closures: Highway 12 corridor is closed between Spalding and Peck. Highway 3 is closed between Arrow Bridge and Kendrick. Gifford and Rueben Highways is also closed.

GWEN FIRE INFORMATION

Fire Information Phoneline: (208) 843-3534 (Time: 7am-7pm) Email: 2024.Gwen@firenet.gov

Facebook: @IdahoDepartmentofLands InciWeb: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idids-2024-gwen-fire

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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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