The Turner Fire in northern Boundary County has advanced to 79% containment as firefighting crews continue systematic work to extinguish hot spots and prevent any expansion beyond its current 681-acre perimeter, according to incident commanders overseeing the operation.
More than 100 homes in the Copeland area were evacuated when the fire started, though evacuation status was downgraded from “Go” to “Set” on July 18, allowing some residents to return to their properties. The Northern Rockies Team 1, commanding the Turner Fire response, has deployed 199 personnel to the blaze.
The Turner Fire effort has been complicated by the emergence of a second major fire nearby. The Upper Smith Fire, sparked by lightning and located six miles west of Porthill, has grown to 970 acres and now commands significantly more resources. That fire has drawn 437 personnel and some crew members previously assigned to the Turner Fire, reflecting the regional strain on firefighting capacity.
Upper Smith Fire Shows Complex Behavior
The Upper Smith Fire presents greater tactical challenges than the Turner Fire. Crews report the fire exhibits backing and flanking behavior with occasional single-tree torching as it moves downhill at a slow rate. Firefighters have constructed a fireline along an avalanche chute and installed sprinkler systems down to Smith Creek to protect structures and slow the fire’s advance.
Direct hand line work has been completed along the Upper Smith Fire’s southern ridgeline, positioned adjacent to the 2022 Long Canyon Fire footprint. On the eastern perimeter, crews are constructing an indirect control line using existing roads, hand lines, dozers, and heavy equipment. Incident commanders estimate containment of the Upper Smith Fire could require approximately one more week.
Brent Olson, the Northern Rockies incident commander, characterized the current fire behavior as typical for the season. “Fire behavior will be active for this time of year, with smoke columns visible from the valley,” Olson stated. Scott Schrenk, operations section chief, emphasized the unified commitment to the suppression effort: “We’re all in on this.”
Community Engagement and Historical Context
More than 70 residents attended a community fire information meeting on Monday to receive updates on evacuation status and suppression progress. The meetings provide local residents with direct access to incident commanders and an opportunity to understand the scope of operations in their area.
Historical fire records add context to the current situation. Data from the past 20 years show that only 4% of those years experienced fire behavior as intense as what the region is currently experiencing, suggesting that present conditions are notably severe by regional standards.
What Comes Next
The Turner Fire’s approach to full containment represents a major step toward normalcy for evacuated residents in the Copeland area. However, the simultaneous growth of the Upper Smith Fire means regional firefighting resources will remain stretched for the next week to 10 days. Crews will continue mop-up operations on the Turner Fire while focusing suppression efforts on slowing the Upper Smith Fire’s downhill advancement and securing its eastern perimeter.
Residents in both fire areas should monitor local evacuation status updates through official Bonner County and Boundary County channels, as conditions remain dynamic. Those in the Turner Fire evacuation zone may see gradual clearance as containment increases, while Upper Smith Fire residents should remain prepared for potential evacuation orders as crews assess fire movement.
For context on the regional fire challenge, see Two Major Wildfires Strain Resources in Bonner County as Crews Battle Steep Terrain and Northside Fire Assists Turner Fire Effort as Crews Map Perimeter Near Copeland.