BONNERS FERRY — Boundary County Board of Commissioners has reached out to U.S. Forest Service officials with the Bonners Ferry Ranger District over what they said was the obliteration of Ball Creek Road.

"Boundary County was not aware that this work was taking place and was not consulted regarding the work before it occurred," the county's three commissioners said in a joint letter to the ranger district.

The trio — board chairman Ben Robertson, Tim Bertling and Les Pinkerton — said since learning of the damaged road, they've been working directly with the U.S. Forest Service to understand what occurred and to find a solution.

"The matter has received attention from senior Forest Service leadership, and discussions are actively underway," the trio said in a press release. "The board's immediate priority is to see Ball Creek Road restored to a condition that allows for both commercial and recreational use."

Ball Creek Road provides important access for wildfire suppression and emergency response and plays a key role in forest management, fuels reduction, timber management, and post-fire recovery and reforestation efforts. It also is important for law enforcement and recreation, among other uses of National Forest System lands.

"Recent wildfires in Boundary County have reinforced the importance of maintaining strategic road access for emergency response and long-term forest management," commissioners said.

Commissioners said they appreciate the Forest Service's quick response and the board will provide additional information as the facts become available and a course of action for restoring the road is established.