BONNERS FERRY — With crews continuing to hold the line on the Turner Fire, Boundary County Sheriff's officials lifted evacuation orders, telling residents near the Turner Fire they could return home.

After conferring with Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1, Boundary County Sheriff Travis Stolley lowered areas previously set at "Go" under the state's Ready-Set-Go evacuation protocol to "Set," saying conditions had improved enough to warrant the change.

Under "Ready" status, residents are advised to have a plan to evacuate if necessary; under "Set" status, residents are advised to begin putting their plan into place. Under "Go" status, residents are advised to leave due to an imminent threat.

Roughly 100 homes were included in the evacuation notice, with another 150 advised to have a plan and be ready to put it into place. All residents near the Turner Fire will be placed on "Set" status through the completion of firefighting efforts on the fire, Stolley said.

Fire resources are expected to remain in the area for at least the next five days, and residents should remain alert for fire personnel and equipment still operating in the area.

The fire, which is burning 5 miles south of Copeland, has burned 593 acres since it was reported late Wednesday afternoon, quickly spreading and forcing the evacuation of nearby residents. There are 192 personnel assigned to the fire, including seven hand crews, eight engines and assorted heavy equipment.

The fire is 43% contained, which means that fire spread has been stopped along secured portions of the perimeter. The cause remains under investigation.

"Day and night shift crews made significant progress yesterday," incident commander Bea Day said in a Saturday update. "Dozer line, handline and saw lines now surround the entire fire, with only a few sections requiring additional work."

Drones equipped with infrared sensors are being used to identify any hot spots on the fire to help guide further fire line operations. In addition, Northern Rockies CIMT officials said reconnaissance aircraft are helping track the fire and noted that water and retardant drops were not needed.

Northern Rockies officials said fire crews are working to secure the fire perimeter and begin mop-up. The process involves applying water along the fire’s edge and using hand tools to expose and extinguish smoldering material. Mop-up is expected to take approximately five days, officials said.

With progress being made on the Turner Fire, some of the crews will be reassigned to support the Upper Smith Fire.

Work continues on the Upper Smith Fire, which has burned 617 acres since it was sparked by lightning on July 8. Located 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, the fire is 0% contained. There are 175 personnel assigned to the fire, including three helicopters, six hand crews, assorted heavy equipment and four water tenders.

"Despite yesterday morning’s strong winds and thunderstorms, the fire grew by only 19 acres, with most of the growth occurring on the east side," Day said.

Some backing and flanking fire behavior was observed Friday as the fire continues to move downhill toward Smith Creek. With stronger winds and lower relative humidity expected over the weekend, Northern Rockies officials said fire activity on the Upper Smith Fire could increase.

"A full suppression strategy is being implemented utilizing direct and indirect tactics to protect critical values at-risk and minimize firefighter risk exposure," officials said.

Fire crews are working north along West Side Road to strengthen the indirect hand and dozer line. Also, Hotshot crews are building a fireline directly adjacent to the fire’s edge on the south portion of the fire, moving along the ridge and progressing east, and helicopters are assisting with water bucket drops to cool the fire’s edge.

Crews are scouting potential locations for additional indirect control lines north of Smith Creek.

"These actions are designed to keep the fire north of the ridge to protect values at-risk," Day said. "Structure triage continues throughout the area, firefighters are assessing homes and other buildings to determine their risk level and identify any needed protective actions."

Both Smith Creek Road and Long Canyon Trail have been closed to public travel. Closures in the Westside and Kerr Lake road areas, as well as a closure of Riverside Street, are connected to county projects.

Temporary flight restrictions are in effect over both fires to ensure the safety of suppression aircraft.

Selkirk Fire officials said the national preparedness level has been elevated to five, the highest level, reflecting the large amount of fire activity and demand for wildfire resources. 

"Currently, there are 73 large fires being suppressed nationally with nearly 900,000 acres involved," Selkirk Fire Chief Jeff Armstrong said in a social media post. "Almost 18,000 firefighters are committed to these fires."

In the Northern Rockies Region, the preparedness level is set at three, Selkirk Fire officials said, noting that firefighters from both Selkirk and Northside fire districts are supporting both the Upper Smith and Turner fires in Boundary County.

With more fire season ahead, Selkirk officials reminded residents to follow fire safety practices

"Please be fire safe," Armstrong said. "One spark is all it takes.

Info.: inciweb.wildfire.gov

    A photo of an area burned by the Turner Fire in northern Boundary County.
  

    Firefighters on the Turner Fire work to secure a direct line on Saturday.
  

    Upper Smith Fire crews listen to the day's plan during a morning briefing on Saturday.