Northside Fire personnel have joined suppression efforts at the Turner Fire, located approximately five miles south of Copeland in Boundary County. As of Saturday, July 19, crews completed detailed mapping of the fire’s perimeter, which has grown to 681 acres with containment at 47 percent.
The Turner Fire operation involves 224 fire personnel and eight hand crews working to protect evacuated homes and secure the fire’s boundaries. Firefighters are reinforcing and maintaining control lines that now encircle the entire perimeter, though smoke continues to rise from pockets of unburned vegetation in the fire’s interior.
Evacuation Status and Public Safety Measures
A Level 2 “Set” evacuation warning remains in effect for the Turner Hill area, meaning residents should be prepared to leave on short notice. The Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team has established a temporary flight restriction over the fire zone, prohibiting all aircraft operations, including personal drones.
Officials emphasized the critical importance of the airspace closure. “If you fly, we can’t. Please also remain clear of aircraft dipping water from nearby water sources. Interference can endanger pilots, firefighters and the public,” incident management officials stated.
Community Meeting Scheduled
Residents seeking updates on Turner Fire operations can attend a public meeting scheduled for Monday, July 20, at 6 p.m. in the Mount Hall Elementary gymnasium at 1275 Highway 1. The session will provide current information on firefighting progress and answer community questions.
Upper Smith Fire Expands With No Containment
Nearby, the Upper Smith Fire continues to expand without containment. The fire has burned 748 acres with 293 personnel and eight hand crews assigned to suppression efforts. Smith Creek Road and Long Canyon Trail remain closed to public travel due to fire activity.
Temporary flight restrictions also remain in effect over the Upper Smith Fire, with the same airspace closure rules in place. The combination of two major fires in the region has stretched firefighting resources across Boundary County and neighboring areas.
Both fires remain under intensive management as crews work through summer fire season conditions. Residents in affected areas should monitor official channels for evacuation updates and fire progression information.
Related coverage: Turner Fire Containment Reaches 43% as Crews Push to Protect Evacuated Homes in Boundary County | Lightning-Sparked Fire in Boundary County Grows to 567 Acres; Crews Shift to Full Suppression Effort | Fast-Moving Fire North of Bonners Ferry Triggers Evacuations in Turner Hill Area