Nez Perce-Clearwater Lightning Fires (Wildfire)

In early July, a thunderstorm system moved through the north-central Idaho bringing lots of lightning and very little precipitation. These thunderstorms resulted in numerous wildfire starts on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and the surrounding areas. The U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association, Nez Perce Tribe, the Incident Management Teams and the Bureau of Land Management, are working together to prioritize resources between wildfires based on immediate threats to life and property. The area is experiencing extreme fire conditions.  Prolonged drought (dry conditions), high temperatures, low relative humidity and dropping live fuel moisture have created conditions conducive for an unusually high number of lightning-caused wildfires and large fire growth after starts. Several new fires have started since the thunderstorms in early July.As of July 29, the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest has 40 wildfire…