Texas Wildfire Near Kendrick Reportedly 90% Contained

Crews continue to work toward total containment the Texas Fire, located east of Kendrick on the Latah/Nez Perce County line. As of Thursday morning, the fire's total footprint remained at 1,582 acres and containment was listed at 90%. Firefighters reportedly completed initial mop-up around the entire fire perimeter on Monday, including the eastern spot fire. Officials say Northern Rockies Team 8 will transfer command of the Texas Fire back to the Idaho Department of Lands on Thursday. Robbie Easley, a local Type 4 Incident Commander will assume command. Approximately 50 firefighters, including 2 crews, 2 engines, and 1 water tender will remain on the incident and continue to patrol the fire area, officials said Wednesday morning. On Saturday morning, all evacuation orders were lifted and all roads were reopened in the region.
Big Country News Connection

Kootenai County firefighters lend a hand with Oregon wildfire

On Saturday night, the state of Oregon requested the state of Idaho send firefighters to help with the Durkee Fire in eastern Oregon. By 5 a.m. Sunday, volunteers from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, Timberlake Fire Protection District and Hauser Lake Fire Protection District and Worley Fire District mobilized to lend their assistance with battling the blaze. Each North Idaho department sent two firefighters and a brush truck to fulfill the request. “We were only sending two people, and we had a lot of people willing to go," said Kootenai County Fire Chief Chris Way. "We're very proud to send help. We also recognize while we're the ones sending help today, we may be the people needing help in the future." When the local firefighters departed, the Durkee Fire had burned around 78,000 acres. The blaze was sparked by a lightning strike July 17.
KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane

University of Idaho students study wildfire behavior with controlled embers

VIDEO: Multiple fires have burned hundreds of thousands of acres across eastern Oregon and throughout Idaho during the 2024 wildfire season, posing a threat to those in surrounding areas. More than 97,000 acres were destroyed by wildfires in the Gem State in 2023, according to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. In an effort to improve safety and better understand wildfire behavior, University of Idaho engineering students are studying wildfires by studying embers. The university in a news release said College of Engineering and College of Science students partnered to design and construct a device which creates embers in an controlled environment and mimics wildfire conditions. Research from their studies aims to improve wildfire safety and to mitigate future risks.
KTVB-TV NBC 7 Boise