Wildfire Alert: Sunset Fire – Current as of 8:36 AM PT on 8/20/2025

Idaho Department of Lands sent this bulletin at 08/20/2025 09:41 AM MDT

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Northern Rockies Team 5, Incident Commander Joe Sampson

Location: On the western slope of Lake Pend Oreille, northeast of Athol, ID.

Start Date: 8/13/2025

Cause: Under investigation

Size: 3,208 acres

Containment: 4%

Total Personnel: 546

The Incident Management Team worked in conjunction with the Bonner County Sheriff's Office to clarify the narrative descriptions of the evacuation zones for the Sunset Fire.

Roads in SET and roads in GO are listed on InciWeb at this link.

Water scoopers will continue to draw water from Lake Pend Oreille. Boaters: please stay out of the flight path of these planes to minimize disruptions to firefighting efforts.

CURRENT STATUS

Hotshots, type 2 hand crews, engines, and heavy equipment will work to improve firelines along the western flank, while hotshot and type 2 hand crews work to establish firelines on the northern flank. Aerial resources, including scoopers and helicopters, will continue to assist all firefighting efforts using water drops on the southern, western, and northern flanks of the fire to support crews on the ground. Structure protection teams will continue to implement protection measures where needed along Talache Road and Butler Creek. From the lakeshore, watercraft will insert crews into remote areas.

Daytime infrared (IR) flights, utilizing the Pilatus aerial platform, is being flown from 18,000 feet to locate heat pockets. An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) module with infrared capabilities will fly the fire area to look for hotspots and residual heat.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR

As temperatures increase and conditions dry, visible smoke is likely as residual areas of heat in larger fuels burn. With clear skies and full sun, temperatures will climb to the mid 80s. Winds will be light and variable from the southwest with gusts up to 15 to 20 mph on ridgetops. Relative humidity will drop to the low 20s. A shift to north winds is likely to occur tonight in the wake of the weather disturbance with northerly winds persisting into Thursday morning. An upper-level ridge of high pressure over the Rockies will maintain a drying and warming trend with seasonal warmth through Thursday before much warmer temperatures and dryness develops this weekend.

Flanking and torching fire behavior will increase today in areas with isolated residual heat, and heavy fuels will continue to burn. Continued drying of fuels, higher temperatures and lower relative humidities will result in increased potential for fire activity. Smoke is likely to be visible from numerous locations.

EVACUATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, CLOSURES

The Incident Management Team worked in conjunction with the Bonner County Sheriff's Office to clarify the narrative descriptions of the evacuation zones for the Sunset Fire.

Roads in SET and roads in GO are listed on InciWeb at this link.

To receive the latest evacuation updates please sign up for Bonner County Nixel alerts via text. Text 888777 and enter your zip code.

An evacuation center has been opened at the Cocolalla Bible Camp to assist displaced residents. The Bonner County Fairgrounds are available to shelter evacuated livestock on a limited basis.

Area closures are in effect on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The area closure encompasses all National Forest Service Lands (NFSL) along the western shoreline of Lake Pend Oreille, from Camp Bay south to Three Sisters Horizontal Control Station. The closure extends west to Three Sisters Creek, then proceeds north to just south of National Forest Service Road (NFSR) 230. It then follows a stepped northeast path to Hickman Creek continuing east to the Forest Boundary and then heads north to Sagle Road. From Sagle Road, the boundary extends east back to Camp Bay.

More information on Idaho Panhandle National Forests area closures can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/idahopanhandle/alerts

A Temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place that restricts all aircraft (including drones) from operating in the fire area without permission.

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

Please DO NOT Reply to this email address, as this account is unattended.

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 9.6 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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