BONNERS FERRY — With crews continuing to hold the Upper Smith Fire to no growth, a community meeting will be held Tuesday to update area residents on where crews standing in the six-week-old fire.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Mount Hall School, 1275 Highway 1. Northern Idaho Blue Team and local representatives will be on hand to provide updates on the Upper Smith Fire.

The fire, which was sparked by a July 8 lightning strike, has burned 3,697 acres. It is 38% contained. 

There are 147 personnel assigned to the fire, including four hand crews, three helicopters, seven engines, six water tenders, three chippers, an ambulances and assorted heavy equipment. The fire is located 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry and 6 miles west of Porthill.

While lightning from a Sunday afternoon storm sparked a new start within contingency lines north of Fisher Creek and west of Westside Road, Blue Team officials said aviation resources kept fire activity to Long Canyon.

"Aircraft and fire personnel from the Upper Smith incident quickly extinguished the fire with a water drop, and subsequent aerial surveys did not observe any other new fires in the area," officials said.

On the ground, crews continued establishing fuel breaks along Westside Road, while masticators and a road grader improved contingency lines south and west of the fire perimeter.   

Monday, Blue Team fire managers coordinated air and ground operations to secure the perimeter near Parker Ridge. Crews are continue to chip a shaded fuel break along Westside Road and have started digging handlines to connect Westside Road to Fisher Creek. Mastication work will continue along the road system south and west of the fire perimeter.

On the Porcupine Fire near Clark Fork, good overnight humidity and cooler temperatures are keeping fire growth minimal, Idaho Panhandle National Forest officials said on InciWeb, an interagency incident information management site.

"Using aerial support and remote cameras personnel will continue to assess fire activity and scout locations to build further suppression lines using natural features," IPNF officials said on InciWeb.

Located 7 miles north-northeast of Clark Fork, the Porcupine Fire has burned 110 acres. The fire is 0% contained.

There is minimal growth on the Porcupine Fire with some backing, single tree torching and smoldering seen between the interior to the fire boundary. Forecasters said warming and drying trends, coupled with decreased humidity, are expected throughout the week which has a potential to increase fire behavior. 

Fire danger remains rated as extreme in the region, meaning that fires of all types start quickly and burn intensely, according to local U.S. Forest Service officials.

Stage 2 fire restrictions are in effect in Bonner and Boundary counties, while Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect in Kootenai, Shoshone and Benewah counties.

Under Stage 1 fire restrictions, campfires and stove use are prohibited except at designated recreation sites, on private property or in approved fire structures. Smoking is limited to enclosed vehicles, buildings or cleared areas free of flammable materials.

Stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit fires and campfires and smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or a designated recreation area that is at least 3 feet in diameter and barren or cleared of flammable materials. In addition, "Hoot Owl" restrictions limit chain saw and machinery operation from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.

For more information on fire restrictions, go to bit.ly/45a7eIT. 

Information: InciWeb.wildfire.gov.