Crews contain blaze at USFS tree nursery
Brian Walker Hagadone News Network | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 years, 3 months AGO
A fire damaged trees that separate Atlas Road from the Forest Service tree nursery in Coeur d’Alene. (JOSH MONTREUIL/Press)
(JOSH MONTREUIL/Hagadone News Network) This fire at the Forest Service tree nursery along Atlas Road in Coeur d’Alene was quickly contained on Wednesday afternoon. Fire danger in the area was elevated to “very high.”
COEUR d'ALENE — Crews quickly contained a blaze at the Forest Service tree nursery on Wednesday afternoon after area fire danger was elevated to "very high" earlier in the day.
Some, but not all, local fire districts, including Northern Lakes that serves Rathdrum, Hayden and Hayden Lake, have temporarily banned campfires due to the heightened fire danger.
"This may not be true for other districts, but our chief chose to go this route due to fire danger," said Jim Lyon, Northern Lakes spokesman, adding that charcoal and propane barbecues are still allowed.
Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, as of Wednesday night, hadn't moved to such a ban.
"Recreational fires are allowed until the Department of Lands issues a Level 1 restriction," KCFR Chief Warren Merritt said.
Residents in other jurisdictions are urged to check with their local agencies on any burning restrictions.
Craig Etherton, Coeur d'Alene Fire spokesman, said Wednesday's fire at the tree nursery was reported around 3:40 p.m. and crews cleared the scene at 4:30 p.m. It is estimated it grew to 40-by-100 feet and damaged trees that divide Atlas Road and the nursery trees.
Etherton said that a cause and origin hadn't been pinpointed as of deadline Wednesday night.
Since the fire was along Atlas, it's possible that a spark or cigarette may have started it, he said.
Two engine crews — one each from Coeur d'Alene and KCFR — responded along with a battalion chief and an ambulance crew.
"Staff from the nursery set up irrigation piping to help with the extinguishment," Etherton said.
Atlas Road and a road inside the nursery helped prevent the fire from spreading, Etherton said.
The fire was both inside the nursery and along Atlas.
Etherton said having Coeur d'Alene Fire's newest station on Atlas less than a mile away helped with the response time.
No structures were threatened during the blaze. Etherton said damage to the trees was kept at a minimum so it's possible the Forest Service may deem them salvageable.
Etherton said he believes wind, in addition to the dry weather, may have caused the fire to spread at a faster-than-normal pace.