BONNERS FERRY — Bit by bit, gains continue to be made on the Upper Smith Fire.

The fire's southwestern corner near Smith Ridge remains "locked in and holding well," Trevor Unsworth, Northern Rockies Team 1 operations section chief, said.

A sprinkler line into Smith Creek and an avalanche chute on the fire's western flank continue to hold well. The past several shifts have allowed fire crews to conduct firing operations — deliberately setting small fires in a controlled manner to remove fuel loads ahead of a main fire — on Upper Smith's northern flank.

"We're slowly bringing the fire down into Smith Creek on our terms," Unsworth said. "That's all been going super well."

A red flag warning was in effect throughout Saturday, with dry, windy conditions expected through 10 p.m. and wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour. 

Due to the fire crossing the "Set" management action point on Boundary County's evacuation planning maps, Sheriff Travis Stolley raised the evacuation protocol from "Ready" to "Set."

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.

"The Ready-Set-Go lines on the planning maps are decision-support tools," Stolley said on the department's social media accounts. "Crossing a line does not automatically trigger an evacuation, but it does require us to closely evaluate conditions and take appropriate action. Fire behavior remains the primary deciding factor."

BCSO officials will continue to monitor conditions alongside Northern Rockies Team 1 officials and will provide updates as needed.

The weather conditions resulted in "a bit more growth" on the fire's eastern flank due to a strong southwestern wind blowing down the northern slope of the ridge. Also, the wildfire "rolled around" in the 2022 Long Canyon Fire scar and burned its way to the main Smith Ridge column, Unsworth said.

Helicopters and scooper planes are being used to cool the fire in that area and help crews control Upper Smith's spread, he added.

Prep work on an indirect line near the toes of the slope continued Saturday, with crews polishing the southern and northern ends of the line.

"It's in good shape, if and when we ever need to use it," Unsworth said.

The wildfire has burned 1,184 acres since it was sparked by lightning July 8. There are 468 personnel assigned to the fire, with five helicopters, 13 hand crews and assorted heavy equipment, including a dozer, 10 engines and seven water tenders, as well as excavators, masticators and skidgines.

The Upper Smith Fire is 15% contained and has been burning since July 8.

Some of the increase can be attributed to firing operations, with fire crews working to guide the fire toward Smith Creek in a controlled manner and away from homes, agricultural fields and other key values at risk from the wildfire.

Firefighters have spent the past 10 days working in steep terrain and dense fuels, continuing to use direct and indirect full-suppression tactics. Crews are prioritizing the protection of critical values at risk while limiting firefighter exposure, Northern Rockies Team 1 officials said.

Along Westside Road, hand crews, chippers and fallers are strengthening indirect firelines. Crews are also building and reinforcing handline along the southern ridge and Smith Creek, officials said.

With the Turner Fire 100% contained — meaning there is little to no risk that the wildfire will escape beyond firelines or that fire activity will increase —

Firefighters are continuing to mop up on the fire, working from the perimeter toward the fire's interior. As part of that effort, crews are extinguishing and removing any fuels burning near the control lines, reducing further risk of spread and minimizing residual smoke.

With the fire contained, many resources are being moved to support efforts on the nearby Upper Smith Fire. However, Northern Rockies Team 1 officials said resources will remain available for new wildfire starts in the area.

Command of the wildfire was officially transferred back to a District Type 3 organization at 6 a.m. Saturday.

"Their diligence, dedication, and professionalism throughout their time on the Turner Fire is greatly appreciated," officials said.

The fire burned 681 acres and forced the evacuation of roughly 100 homes and placed another 150 homes on alert for potential evacuation for several days after it was first reported about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 15.

The cause of the fire is unknown and it remains under investigation.

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. Both personal aircraft and drones are included in the TFRs.

While both the Copeland and Porthill boat launches are open, residents are advised to be on the watch for aerial resources that may need to access the Kootenai River for water drops if water is needed to cool the fire.

Information: inciweb.wildfire.gov