Current News Coverage
Education’s boost to logging
Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 6-1-25
OROFINO — Reagan Brown sliced a board from a cut log using a brand new bright orange sawmill as a crowd of students, teachers and lumber industry workers looked on.
He was part of a daylong event Orofino Junior Senior High School put on May 22 to show off its new trade programs, including the sawmill.
Aiden Olive, a senior, was helping Reagan.
“This is completely new,” he said. “We got this about a month ago. We put it together ourselves.”
The school is in a river valley surrounded by hills covered in evergreen trees — the kind of forest that has been logged for more than 100 years. It’s a $2.5 billion industry in Idaho, but it’s looking for workers.
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Jeremy Shawver of the Idaho Department of Lands was on site because IDL supports the new program by doing things like donating logs.
“It definitely seems like the average workforce in Idaho is around 50 years old for the loggers, logging side of things,” Shawver said. “Even with the existing industry, we’ve been trying to get more people into the workforce.”
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Idaho firefighters deploy to Canada to battle wildfires
KREM2, 6-3-25
IDAHO, USA — Idaho fire crews are heading north of the border to assist Canadian authorities with wildfire suppression efforts as part of a longstanding mutual aid agreement between the northwestern United States and Canada.
"Wildfire knows no borders, and neither does our commitment to helping others," the department stated in announcing the mobilization. "Lending support now means when we need help in the future, they'll be there for us too."
The Idaho Department of Lands announced the deployment of the "Teakean Crew" under the Northwest Wildland Firefighting Compact, which facilitates the sharing of firefighting resources across jurisdictional boundaries when communities face severe wildfire threats.
The compact represents a critical component of North American wildfire response strategy, allowing fire agencies to pool resources and expertise during peak fire seasons. The arrangement has proven essential as climate change has intensified wildfire activity across the western United States and western Canada in recent years.
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Wildfire in Dickinson County
The Daily Mining Gazette, 6-3-25
IRON MOUNTAIN — With extreme fire danger in the western Upper Peninsula, firefighters are working in Dickinson County to contain and extinguish a wildfire burning since Sunday northeast of Iron Mountain.
The fire was reported burning at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, just past Pine Creek, along Carney Lake Road, roughly 14 miles from Iron Mountain. The cause is being investigated.
“Firefighters were battling the fire last night over a rock outcropping, in an area of mixed hardwoods and large pines,” said Keith Murphy, a Michigan Department of Natural Resources fire specialist at the agency’s Incident Coordination Center in Harvey. “About 5 to 6 acres have burned.”
Nearly three dozen firefighters were working on the fire as of Monday, including a 20-person Hot Shot crew based in the Idaho panhandle and a Type I helicopter on loan from the U.S. Forest Service.
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Hatwai Fire declared fully contained
Lewiston Tribune, 6-3-25
The year’s first significant wildfire in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley was declared fully contained and controlled Monday.
Fueled by gusty winds, steep terrain and unseasonably dry and hot weather, the Hatwai Fire burned 250 acres and threatened several homes in the hours after its start Saturday evening.
The Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation notices as the fire, pushed by wind gusts that reached between 35 and 45 miles per hour, spread from the corner of Hatwai Road and 42nd Street North to the north and east on the Snake and Clearwater River breaks in the Central Grade area.
Firefighters from multiple agencies including the Idaho Department of Lands, Nez Perce County, city of Lewiston, Asotin County and city of Clarkston were able to defend the homes but a small shed burned Saturday night.
According to a news release from the Idaho Department of Lands, the cause of the fire is under investigation. Mike Rigney, chief deputy of the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office, told the Tribune on Saturday that a tree branch making contact with a power line appeared to spark the blaze.
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Idaho Firefighters Deployed to Canada to Assist with Wildfire Response
DailyFly, 6-2-25
BOISE, ID – Firefighters with the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) have been deployed to Canada to support wildfire response efforts through a regional partnership known as the Northwest Wildland Firefighting Compact.
Forest Service chief calls for fires to be extinguished ASAP. Fire scientists have concerns
Boise State Public Radio, 6-2-25
Tom Schultz, the head of the U.S. Forest Service, is calling for wildfires to be extinguished “as swiftly as possible this season.” But aggressive suppression policies are widely believed to be one of the key culprits in the current wildfire crisis.
Decades of aggressive suppression have led to dramatic changes in ecosystems across the West, and allowed for the buildup of trees, shrubs and other wildfire fuel. The Forest Service itself acknowledges that “rigorous fire suppression” has contributed to what it calls a “full-blown wildfire and forest health crisis.”
Mark Kreider, a scientist with the Nature Conservancy, is concerned by the agency’s direction this fire season. He was lead author on a 2024 paper that identified another way that suppression leads to more dangerous wildfires.
“By doing fire suppression whenever and wherever possible, really we've only gotten rid of certain types of fires,” he said. “And we've kind of biased all the fires that do occur to be much more extreme.”
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Update: Hatwai Fire near Lewiston reaches 250 acres, 50% contained
KLEW, 6-2-25
Lewiston, ID (CBS2) — UPDATE: The fire is now 75% contained.
The Hatwai Fire, located northeast of Lewiston, expanded to approximately 250 acres overnight but is now 50 percent contained, according to fire officials. Firefighters worked tirelessly through the night, and relief crews have taken over this morning.
The winds have calmed, resulting in no active fire behavior at present. Crews are actively securing the fire line and have begun mop-up operations to preempt any potential issues that could arise from changing wind conditions.
The Nez Perce County Sheriff has lifted all evacuation orders, signaling a positive turn in the firefighting efforts. Currently, between 40 and 50 personnel are engaged in battling the blaze, supported by eight engines, one water tender, and a dozer on standby.
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Firefighters contain Hatwai Fire near Lewiston
KMVT, 6-2-25
LEWISTON, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Firefighters have contained a blaze that broke out on Saturday northeast of Lewiston.
The Hatwai Fire burned 250 acres before being fully contained on Monday, according to the Idaho Department of Lands. All fire engines have now been released, and the Ponderosa Forest Protective District will continue to monitor the fire until it is completely extinguished.
The blaze broke out in high winds on Saturday around 6 p.m. near Hatwai Road, according to Asotin County Fire District #1. Crews had to evacuate neighborhoods, with some residents calling 911 to report being trapped in their driveways. Nez Perce County Fire reported that there were no injuries.
The IDL said that only one structure burned, a small outbuilding the size of a shed. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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Fire crews released from Hatwai Fire near Lewiston as containment reaches 100%
KREM2, 6-2-25
LEWISTON, Idaho — The Hatwai Fire is burning about 250 acres just northeast of Lewiston.
According to the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), the fire broke out on Saturday near Hatwai Road and 42nd Street North.
As of Monday, Nez Perce County Fire said the fire had burned 250 acres and the fire is 100% contained and controlled.
IDL says the fire destroyed a small outbuilding the size of a shed.
Nez Perce County Fire says no injuries were reported and all evacuations have been lifted.
IDL says all fire engines have been released from the fire and the Ponderosa Forest Protective District will monitor the fire until they are certain it is out.
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Hatwai Fire 100% contained and controlled
Big Country News, 6-1-25
LEWISTON - The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is now patrolling the 250-acre Hatwai Fire. The fire is now 100% contained and controlled.
All fire engines are now released, and the Ponderosa Forest Protective District will monitor the fire until they are certain it is out.
Fire officials have verified the only structure that burned was a small outbuilding the size of a shed.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Previous reporting of the Hatwai Fire can be found here.
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Hatwai wildfire burns more than 200 acres northeast of Lewiston
KXLY, 6-1-25
LEWISTON, Idaho — Fire crews worked through the night to battle a more than 200-acre wildfire north of Lewiston that burned one structure and threatened numerous homes near Hatwai Road.
The fire is located near Hatwai and 42nd Street North, northeast of Lewiston.
As of 6 p.m. on June 1, the fire is estimated to be about 250 acres and is 75% contained, according to Idaho Department of Lands.
IDL said winds have calmed down and that there is currently no "active fire behavior."
Crews are securing the fire line and moving into the mop-up phase.
Nez Perce Sheriff's Office has lifted all evacuations orders.
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Wildfire threatens homes in northeast Lewiston, evacuations underway
CBS2, 6-1-25
Lewiston, ID (CBS2) — A wildfire erupted along Hatwai Road in northeast Lewiston on Saturday evening, driven by high winds that threatened numerous homes and forced evacuations. The fire, which started just after 6 p.m. near the Lewiston city limits, trapped some residents in their driveways, prompting urgent calls to 911.
Firefighters from Asotin County Fire District #1 and other regional crews are battling the blaze, with the Idaho Department of Lands and Nez Perce County Fire leading the operations. Despite the challenging conditions, no injuries have been reported as of 10 p.m., though the flames have consumed several outbuildings.
The Idaho State Police and other emergency response agencies are on the scene, assisting with evacuations and road closures. Hatwai Road is closed between 36th Street North and Central Grade as the fire continues to spread rapidly in a north/northwesterly direction.
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Crews Moving Into Mop-up Stage at 250-Acre Wildfire North of Lewiston
DailyFly, 6-1-25
LEWISTON, ID – Gusty winds of 15-20 miles per hour, steep terrain and dark conditions challenged firefighters battling the 250-acre Hatwai Fire overnight. Winds have been calmer Sunday as crews continued to work the fire.
The fire was first reported around 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. It is located just north of Lewiston, across the Clearwater River from Clearwater Paper, along Hatwai Road. Idaho State Police urged the public on Saturday evening to stay clear of the area to allow emergency crews to work safely and effectively.
According to the Idaho Department of Lands, one structure has burned in the fire. Some reports indicate a second structure may have also been impacted.
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UPDATE AT 7:48 P.M.: Hatwai Fire now 75% contained; all active burning has been stopped
Lewiston Tribune 6-1-25
UPDATE AT 7:48 P.M.:
The 250-acre Hatwai Fire northeast of Lewiston was estimated to be 75% contained by Sunday evening and all active burning had been stopped.
According to a news release from the Idaho Department of Lands, firefighters spent Sunday securing lines around the fire, dousing hot spots and performing other mop-up duties.
The fire, which destroyed one small outbuilding and led to temporary evacuations, started along Hatwai Road in North Lewiston on Saturday evening at the same time winds were gusting between 35 and 45 miles per hour. Mike Rigney, chief deputy of the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office, told the Tribune it may have been sparked by a tree branch hitting an electrical line.
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Evacuations underway, roads shut down in response to rapidly spreading wildfire in North Idaho
Idaho State Journal, 5-31-25
The Idaho Department of Lands and the Nez Perce County Fire are leading the response for an active wildfire northeast of Lewiston.
The Idaho State Police and partnering emergency response agencies are on the scene, providing support for their efforts. Due to the seriousness of the situation, the public is urged to stay clear of the area to allow emergency crews to work safely and effectively.
The impacted area includes the closure of Hatwai Road between 36th Street North (western boundary) and Central Grade (eastern boundary).
The fire is burning rapidly with strong winds pushing flames in a north/northwesterly direction. Local law enforcement and troopers are actively assisting with evacuations and road closures. Multiple fire units and emergency crews will work around the clock to protect lives, property, and infrastructure.
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Smokey Coloring Contest
Posted June 5, 2025
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  #FirePreventionJen here with a big shoutout to our young friends at Athol Elementary School!  
Congratulations on your amazing participation in the annual Smokey Bear Coloring Contest! Your creativity and enthusiasm show that you're already fire prevention leaders. Keep up the great work, and remember—only YOU can prevent wildfires!
Smokey also wants to thank our Mica Area fire crew for the ride in their engine and helping educate our communities about how they can pre…
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Heading North to Alberta
Posted June 2, 2025
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Our fire crews are heading north! Under the Northwest Wildland Firefighting Compact, our firefighters are mobilizing to Canada to support our neighbors in their wildfire response efforts. 🌲🔥
Wildfire knows no borders, and neither does our commitment to helping others. Lending support now means when we need help in the future, they’ll be there for us too. That’s the power of partnership. 💪🤝 We’re proud to be part of this team effort to protect lives, land, and communities. Stay safe out there, IDL! 🇺🇸🤝🇨🇦
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