Sept. 29--Brief rain showers fell on both the McGuire and Sheep fires Friday, raising humidity levels and giving another hint that fire season may eventually come to an end.
Meteorologists stationed at both fires measured between .02 and .03 of an inch of precipitation.
"It didn't amount to a lot, but it's enough to really help the situation," said Bobby Kitchens, a fire information officer on the Sheep Fire. "It makes the humidity come up and it helps it stay up longer."
The fire has burned 47,600 acres near Lucile. Firefighters continued to build line in the upper reaches of Fiddle Creek and along Dairy Ridge in the North Fork of Slate Creek.
Kitchens said a meteorologist stationed on the fire is forecasting a major weather change for the middle of next week when a cold front from Canada is predicted to sweep south and bring higher winds and dramatically cooler air, but little to no precipitation. However, meteorologist Bryan Henry with the Northern Rockies Interagency Coordination Center at Missoula is predicting there is a good chance the cold front will miss Idaho as it swings south and east from Canada across western Montana.
Erin Heep McKenzie, fire information officer on the McGuire Fire, said the welcome rain will likely be followed by four days of rising temperatures.
"This is just a minor reprieve," she said.
The fire has burned 42,170 acres.
The Powell SBW Complex near Powell has burned 57,000 acres. Reduced fire activity led to the opening of Road 362 to Tom Beal Park and the Wind Lakes area. Vast areas around the Powell, McGuire and Sheep fires remain closed. The latest information on the closed areas is available at www.inciweb.org.
The Flying B Fire near Kamiah was contained Friday. It burned 584 acres. A grass and timber fire near Cloverland was also contained. It burned 20 acres.
Barker may be contacted at [email protected] or at (208) 848-2273. Follow him on Twitter @ezebarker.
Copyright 2012 - Lewiston Tribune, Idaho
