KAMIAH – The Little Bear Fire, currently burning within Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest Powell Ranger District, a half mile northeast of Bear Mountain Lookout, about one mile south of Highway 12, and less than one and a half miles southeast of Jerry Johnson Campground, remains about 20% contained.
Weather conditions continue to prevent any IR flights from getting better-estimated acreages. The influx of moisture continues to decrease fire behavior. Current estimates remain at approximately 1,646 acres. The fire is still cleaning up dead, down logs that have fallen since the Freezeout Fire that burned in 2012. The Little Bear Fire was detected on July 3rd in steep and rugged terrain, with a high density of snags from the 2012 fire. Structure protection is in place with a remote start pressure pump for sprinkler protection on Warm Springs Pack Bridge and fuel mitigation around Bear Mountain Lookout. Fire managers and personnel continue to assess the area for further protection measures.
Cool, wet weather will continue through early in the week, as low pressure moves over the Northern Rockies today. Rainfall, associated with thunderstorms, could become heavy at times, creating localized flooding and debris flow issues on existing burn scars. There will be a 30%-50% chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Temperatures begin to slightly increase towards the end of the week, reaching highs around the low-90s. Fire behavior has decreased, with flame lengths around 1-3 feet.
There are now official area and trail closures for the Warm Springs area. The closure includes the area generally following the land south of the Lochsa River within a quarter mile of the eastern shore of Warm Springs Creek, below the confluence with Cooperation Creek in Section 20. There are additional trail closures for the National Forest Service Trails (NFST) #49, Warm Springs Trail from its junction with Highway 12 to the junction with Trail #213; NFST #44,
Cooperation Trail from its junction with the Warm Springs Trail #49 to the Top of the ridge approximately 6 miles East
Southeast; and NFST #49-A, stock trail from its junction with the Cooperation Trail #44 to the junction with the Warm Springs Trail #49. Please visit InciWeb for current closure maps for the Little Bear Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incidentinformation/idncf–little–bear–fire.
Please be aware that inversion-related smoke may impact Highway 12.
