Upper Smith Fire Grows Amid Challenging Terrain and Active Fire Behavior
A lightning-sparked wildfire burning six miles west of Porthill in Bonner County has charred 449 acres with zero containment as of Monday evening, prompting crews to deploy more than 129 firefighters and significant aerial resources to combat the blaze.
The Upper Smith Fire ignited between the overnight hours of July 7 and early July 8 following a lightning strike. The fire is spreading across rugged, north-facing slopes covered with large logs, dead and down timber beneath a dense forest canopy—conditions that have severely limited ground access and forced crews to adopt indirect suppression tactics.
The assignment reflects the fire’s intensity and complexity. Ground crews have constructed indirect hand lines and dozer lines over the past 24 hours, working to establish defensive positions where terrain allows. A Hotshot crew, two hand crews, multiple engines, and heavy machinery have been positioned around the fire, supported by aviation assets including helicopters and heavy tankers that conducted water drops on Sunday.
Mitchell Prophet, the U.S. Forest Service Type 3 Northern Idaho Team incident commander, described the operational strategy: “Personnel are actively evaluating opportunities to engage directly where terrain, fire behavior and safety allow, while assessing the potential for strategic firing operations.”
Active Fire Behavior Complicates Suppression Efforts
Firefighters reported active single-tree torching with short-range spotting and flanking on the fire’s leading edge Sunday, indicating the blaze is consuming individual trees and jumping across terrain. In wetter areas, the fire displays creeping and smoldering behavior, allowing crews to potentially establish lines more safely in those zones.
The terrain’s inaccessibility—combined with the fuel load and fire behavior—has prevented crews from using direct attack methods in many areas. Instead, incident commanders are focusing on strategic placement of lines and potential use of controlled burns to remove fuel ahead of the main fire’s advance.
Road and Trail Closures; Airspace Restrictions in Place
Smith Creek Road and Long Canyon Trail remain closed to public travel due to the fire. Temporary flight restrictions have been established over the incident to protect firefighting aircraft and drones from civilian interference.
The restriction follows a broader problem affecting wildfire operations across the Idaho Panhandle. Multiple drone incursions were reported Saturday on several wildfires across Idaho Panhandle National Forests, disrupting firefighting aircraft operations and creating safety hazards for both aerial crews and ground personnel. Unauthorized drones operating near active fires can force helicopters and tankers to cease water and retardant drops, delaying suppression efforts.
What Comes Next
Crews will continue to evaluate opportunities for direct engagement where safety and terrain permit while preparing potential strategic firing operations to slow the fire’s advance. Weather conditions, particularly temperature and humidity, will heavily influence fire behavior and containment prospects. Updates on the fire’s status and any further road or trail closures will be issued by incident management as the situation develops.
Residents in the Porthill area are advised to monitor official alerts from Bonner County and the U.S. Forest Service for updates on fire activity and any evacuation orders. The closure of Smith Creek Road will remain in effect until the fire is controlled.