Wildfire Alert: Cherry Fire – Current as of 9:00 AM PT on 7/19/2025

Pushing Through the Heat: Cherry Fire Firefighters Achieve 40% Containment

 

Location: One mile northeast of Deary, Idaho 

Incident Command: Type 3 North Idaho Incident Management Team, Mike McManus, I.C. 

Estimated Size: 113 acres        Containment: 40%              Total Personnel: 184 

 

(Deary, Idaho) – The Cherry Fire, located about one mile northeast of Deary, is holding at 113 acres with containment now at 40%. No structures are threatened. The fire is burning primarily in heavy logging slash within an active state endowment timber sale, and a small portion of the Nez Perce Clearwater National Forests. 

Instability of burned log decks, ash pits, snags, and stump holes are among the hazards crews continue to deal with during mop up operations.

 

To mitigate some of these hazards, heavy equipment is being used to break up large burning materials while a water tender sprays it down. Additionally, sawyers will continue working ahead of crews to remove trees that pose a risk of falling. Firelines were tested yesterday by Red Flag weather, and held through high winds, which resulted in additional containment. Crews are frequently looking for and containing any spot fires outside of the main fire. Gusty winds will persist today, but as firefighters continue to gain containment, there is a reduced chance of the fire spreading. 

 

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in place over the fire area for a 2 mile radius. Any unauthorized aircraft poses a serious hazard to aviation personnel, necessitating the grounding of aircraft and a potential delay of valuable fire suppression efforts. If you fly, we can’t.  

 

Thank you to those who have respected the road closure on Brush Creek Road. All incident personnel carry radios to communicate critical information such as weather observations, hazards, fire behavior, and travel along narrow roads. Violating fire closures puts not only the public, but also crews at risk.  

 

The Idaho Department of Lands, in cooperation with and with assistance from the U.S. Forest Service, Latah County Sheriff’s Office, Bennett Lumber, Clearwater Potlatch Timber Protective Association, Deary Rural Fire Department, Juliaetta Fire Department, and the Montana DNRC is working toward full suppression of this fire. Firefighter and public safety remain the number one priority.   

 

The fire cause is currently under investigation. 

 

Photo Credit: Idaho Department of Lands

 

MEDIA CONTACT:   

Jennifer Russell, PIOC

North Idaho IMT1

Cherry Fire Information Phone: 208-923-1340

Email: 2025.cherry@firenet.gov