Emergency responders called to wildland fires, downed trees, downed powerlines

by Nancy C. Butler

While there are no working wind gauges in downtown Orofino, anyone that was in the area was quite aware of the wind gusts that first brought in a major dust storm and a couple hours later blew in downing powerlines, limbs and in some cases whole trees across roadways.

National Weather Service-Missoula shared the speed of gusts in the close area as: 29 miles per hour at Dent RAWS, 39 mph at Lenore, 39 mph on Greer Grade and 35 mph at Reubens.

That might have been enough, but then two wildland fires were reported. We all know what wind does to wildland fires and it isn't good. The first fire was reported between Bartlett and Wixson Heights. Orofino Fire was called out and shortly after another was reported on Twin Springs off Clover Dr. in the Sunnyside Rural Fire District. Anyone that has been here very long will remember the Clover Fire and the Wixson Heights Fire in the last few years and the destruction they caused.

Fortunately, these two fires, though wind driven, did not cause the destruction of the two from the past. No structures were lost and there were no reported injuries. Cause of each fire is under investigation and the State Fire Marshal has been contacted.

Orofino Fire Chief Bart Jones said the Wixson Heights Fire was three to five acres. It started about 200 yards above the top of Bartlett and people in that area around the anodizing business were evacuated. He said a resident with a mini excavator dug a line around the fire or the outcome would have been very different as the fire went up the draw toward Wixson. Thankfully, the wind died down and OFD, with the help of Twin Ridge Rural Fire in mutual aid, were able to get it out. OPD provided traffic control and other logistics around the scene, with off-shift officers called in.

Sunnyside Fire Chief Rich Hull estimated the Twin Springs Fire at about two acres. Their timely response helped to keep it from getting away. No structures were threatened, but were in the area. SRFD did the initial attack and Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association (C-PTPA) followed up. Clearwater County Sheriff's Office assisted with traffic control.

That leaves us with the performance of CCSO Dispatch which was managing not only the fires, downed trees, downed powerlines and the myriad pieces of radio traffic that go with it, but early-on had to deal with phones that didn't work. Fortunately, that was short lived. She did a great job and stayed calm and focused throughout the chaos.

As I write this Breaking News, there are still parts of the area without power. I was lucky our power flickered and our internet was out for a couple of hours, but at 2:15 a.m., there are still more than 567 customers out of power in Orofino, including part of downtown.

I say great job to all the emergency responders, dispatch for dealing with the emergency. Thank you to all the internet and the power company workers that will probably be out most of the night fixing damaged lines and equipment.