Turner Fire Approaches Major Milestone as Upper Smith Burns Uncontained
Firefighting crews across Bonner County are engaged in an intensive battle against two significant wildfires that have consumed thousands of acres and drawn hundreds of personnel to the region. The Turner Fire, which ignited on July 15 near Copeland, had reached 79 percent containment as of late July, while the larger Upper Smith Fire, sparked by lightning on July 8, remained entirely uncontained as suppression efforts continued in challenging mountain terrain.
The Turner Fire has burned 681 acres approximately five miles south of Copeland and is being managed by 199 firefighters organized into seven hand crews, 10 engines, one bulldozer, and three water tenders. Mop-up operations on the Turner Fire began July 22, with crews working to fully secure perimeter lines and eliminate remaining hot spots. The cause of the Turner Fire remains under investigation.
The Upper Smith Fire presents a more formidable challenge. Located 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, the blaze covers 970 acres and is being attacked by a substantially larger force: 437 personnel operating 13 hand crews, nine engines, five water tenders, one bulldozer, three helicopters, two masticators, three skidgines, and two excavators. The terrain has hampered containment efforts—steep, rocky ground combined with heavy fuel loads and deep layers of duff create difficult working conditions for crews and slow progress toward line completion.
Evacuations and Road Closures in Effect
A Level 2 “Set” evacuation warning remains in place, indicating residents should be prepared to leave on short notice. Smith Creek Road, Long Canyon Trail, and Westside Road near Kerr Lake Road and Riverside Street are all closed. The Westside Road closure is related to unrelated bridge work rather than fire operations. A temporary flight restriction has been implemented over the Turner Fire to manage aerial operations.
As of the latest report, no structures have been reported in immediate danger from either fire, though the evacuation warning reflects ongoing risk assessment by emergency management officials.
Weather and Outlook
Forecasters expect challenging conditions to persist through the weekend. High temperatures were predicted to reach 97 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit on July 22, with winds currently gusting to 10 miles per hour. More significant wind activity is expected for the weekend, with southwesterly gusts forecast at 25 to 30 miles per hour—conditions that can rapidly spread fire and complicate suppression operations.
Some relief may arrive later in the week: monsoonal moisture is expected to bring minimal showers and scattered thunderstorms to the region. However, lightning from such storms can also pose ignition risk, as evidenced by the Upper Smith Fire’s origin.
What Comes Next
Firefighting crews will continue prioritizing containment of the Upper Smith Fire while maintaining the gains achieved on the Turner Fire. The weekend wind forecast presents a critical operational window; crews will likely increase staffing and activity ahead of the predicted gusts. Residents in the evacuation warning zone should monitor updates from Bonner County emergency management and remain prepared to evacuate if conditions change. Road closures will remain in effect until fire operations are completed and infrastructure repairs are finished.
For additional information on these fires and current evacuation status, residents can contact Bonner County Emergency Management or monitor official fire agency updates.