Single Publication

  *These updates will be produced only if significant events occur*
 

Overview: The Diamond Watch Fire is burning on Diamond Peak and smoke is visible from ID Highway 57 near Nordman, ID. Due to the rugged, steep, and dangerous terrain that the fire is burning within, fire officials are managing it with a contained/confined strategy. A combination of natural barriers and constructed fireline is being utilized to stop the fires spread beyond the defined areas. Diamond Creek continues to act as a natural barrier keeping the fire confined on the northern edge. Firefighters and heavy equipment have completed the containment lines on the west, east and southern edges of the fire. The continued warm and dry conditions have allowed the fire to slowly move down the southern ridge and become more active in the interior where it’s burning jackstraw piles of naturally dead and down trees. 
 

Engine crews from Priest Lake Ranger District continue to assist assigned firefighters with patrolling the almost 7 miles of containment lines. The shaded fuel break that firefighters and equipment built along FSR 308 created a safe location for firefighters to take direct action. The mile of hoselay with sprinklers and pumps remains in place along the east and west containment lines to assist fire crews with stopping any forward progression beyond the built lines. Heavy equipment continues work to improve Forest Service roads in the area.
 

Smoke: Smoke from fires in the Western States and Canada have had impacts to the air quality around Priest Lake. For a current interactive air quality map and predicted smoke conditions, visit https://fire.airnow.gov/.
 

Closures & Evacuations: Area and road closures have been issued for Forest Service Roads 311, 308, 1362H and the area in the vicinity of the Diamond Watch Fire. Petit Lake and its associated dispersed campsites are within the area closure. FSR 1362 remains open. This closure is for public safety and all methods of travel are prohibited (foot, mechanized, motorized and stock) on the closed roads and areas. A closure on the Colville National Forest includes roads on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. The closure is due to the Thor fire and starts at the junction of FS 302 and FSR 1013. The most up to date fire area closures can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ipnf/alerts-notices.
 

Preparedness & Restrictions: Wildfire season is not over and the need to be prepared continues. Please visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires for details on preparing your home and family for potential wildfires on your area. There are no fire restrictions in place for the Diamond Watch Fire. For current fire restrictions around Idaho, visit https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/. Residents of Bonner County, ID or Pend Oreille, WA can visit https://www.nixle.com or text home zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts.