Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team Three
Bill Waln, Incident Commander
Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team Three (RM CIMT3) assumed command of the Gwen Fire this morning at 6 a.m. PT
Location: 5 miles east Lapwai, Idaho Date Reported: July 24, 2024 Cause: Lightning
Size: 35,402 acres Containment: 0% Total Personnel: 182
RM CIMT Three and the cooperating agencies for the Gwen Fire are planning a community meeting on Monday, July 29, 2024. Time and place for the meeting are to be determined and provided later today.
Current Situation:
- Operations are integrating with the local and current firefighter resources today to reinforce the great work begun by the local landowners and emergency responders.
- Public and firefighter’s safety remain a top priority while crews work to protect values at risk including homes, farmland, and cultural sites.
- The Idaho Panhandle Hotshots are working in conjunction with heavy equipment to construct direct and indirect firelines to keep the fire east of Spalding, and Catholic Creek, and south of the communities of Julietta and Kendrick, and west of the communities of Amos Bench and Bedrock Canyon.
- Team Three is working diligently with local law enforcement and Idaho Department of Transportation to reopen Highway 12 as quickly as possible.
- Team Three will also be assisting Rockcreek Fire crews with logistical and operational support. Rockcreek Fire is a very remote fire located approximately 16 miles southwest of Keuterville ID.
Evacuations: Level 1 Get Ready; Level 2 Get Set; Level 3 Go. For the safety of responders please Go if asked to leave. The fire behavior is very unpredictable and life threatening.
- Latah County Sheriff’s Office Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders for multiple areas of the fire. Learn more athttps://www.facebook.com/LatahCountySOand call: (208) 882-2216
- Nez Perce County Sheriff’s office has issued level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations orders for their county. Those are posted on their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/NezPerceCountySheriffsOffice.
- Nez Perce County Emergency Management Interactive Evacuation Map:https://bit.ly/3yewVv0
Air Quality Information: Please visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ for resources on smoke and air quality. Air quality monitors indicate unhealthy for sensitive groups in the Lapwai area.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Continued hot and dry conditions with very low relative humidity. General winds from the west at 7-15 mph are predicted, but terrain will affect local wind direction and speed. Very active fire behavior can be expected with an increase in fire spread.
Closures: Highway 12 corridor is closed between Spalding and Peck. Highway 3 is closed between Arrow Bridge and Kendrick. Gifford and Rueben Highways is also closed.
GWEN FIRE INFORMATION
Fire Information Phoneline: (208) 843-3534 (Time: 7am-7pm) Email: 2024.Gwen@firenet.gov
Facebook: @IdahoDepartmentofLands InciWeb: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idids-2024-gwen-fire