Thunderstorms have sparked several more wildfires on the Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests. All units with the exception of the North Fork Ranger District have seen fire activity as a result of the storms that started Thursday night.
Officials say all are small – less than an acre in size and each is being evaluated and will be staffed where appropriate.
The Clearwater-Nez Perce fire zone recorded more than 4,200 lightning strikes from the series of storms prior to Friday afternoon’s wave of storms.
Air patrols are being conducted and more fires are expected to be spotted. Holdover fires are possible over the next few days as low intensity smoldering fires that are more difficult to detect become more active when conditions become warmer and drier.
Twenty-four remote backcountry fires on the zone are bing managed for multiple resource benefit, primarily to improve wildlife habitat and reduce forest fuel loads.
Most of the resource fires are small with the largest being the 15-acre Mallard Peak fire on the Clearwater Forest’s North Fork Ranger District.
