Monday morning, a four-person rapid extraction module crew from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue loaded up and traveled to southern Idaho to support fire crews at the Middle Fork Complex Fire.

The complex fire began Aug. 8 near Garden Valley and is currently 5% contained. Fire Chief Chris Way said conditions in North Idaho have been acceptable to allow the department to lend its aid elsewhere. 

“We've had a few fires in and around Kootenai County but nothing like what we had last year. We feel very fortunate, which is also why we are comfortable about sending our resources to southern Idaho,” Way said. 

The REMS team is a specialized team of four paramedics who also can perform technical rescues and vehicle extrications.  

Way said there are currently about 1,000 wildland firefighters working to contain the fire complex. 

“If these firefighters find themselves in dangerous positions, this team is there to protect the wildland firefighters and get them out of harm's way,” Way said. 

The team will deploy for 14 days. In the event the deployment is extended, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue will swap out crew members to continue support and allow the department’s firefighters to come home. 

The department is reimbursed by either the state or federal government for their support during major wildfires.