UPDATE: August 11, 2025 at 10:12 p.m.
The Lightning Creek Fire is currently burning 2,461 acres, and remains 0% contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Officials reported an increase in fire activity within the footprint of the 2018 Cougar Fire, as a result of warmer and drier weather. There may be an increase in visible smoke for residents of the Clark Fork community and along Highway 200, stemming from this increase in activity.
141 total personnel are continuing to work on the fire as it burns through heavy “dead and down” fuels left from the previous incident in 2018.
UPDATE: August 10, 2025 at 10:04 a.m.
The Lightning Creek Fire remains 0% contained, the U.S. Forest Service confirmed in their most recent update. The fire is burning 2,427 acres.
Today, crews will focus on thinning brush and cutting down hazardous trees along Lightning Creek Road.
An Area Closure Order remains in place in the area. For a full map of the closure, visit this website.
UPDATE: August 8, 2025 at 10:11 p.m.
The Lightning Creek Fire is burning 2,427 acres and remains at 0% containment, according to the latest update from the U.S. Forest Service.
A community meeting will be hosted at the Clark Fork High School tonight at 7 p.m.
UPDATE: August 6, 2025 12:13 p.m.
The Lightning Creek Fire has grown to 2417 acres and is still 0% contained. Kary Maddox, Public Information Officer with the U.S. Forest Service said that the fire was started by lightning.
There will be a community meeting to discuss details and answer questions about the fire involving the U.S. Forest Service, Bonner County Emergency Management and Clark Fork Valley Fire Department at Clark Fork High School at 502 North Main Street on August 8 at 7 p.m.
The fire has reached Lightning Creek Road, where mop up operations are starting today. Aerial support is also available and is in use when needed.
Firefighters contained a spot fire across Lightning Creek yesterday a fire across the valley, the Steep Creek Fire was also contained at .3 acres.
An Area Closure Order is in place around the Lightning Creek Fire and Temporary Flight Restrictions are also in place.
UPDATE: August 4, 2025 at 10:11 p.m.
The Lightning Creek Fire is now burning 1,900 acres with 0% containment, according to the latest update from the U.S. Forest Service.
UPDATE: August 3, 2025 at 9:06 p.m.
According to the latest data from Idaho Panhandle National Forests, the Lightning Creek Fire is burning 1,562 acres and remains 0% contained.
According to Kary Maddox, Public Information Officer with the U.S. Forest Service, the most recent acreage data came from an infrared scan performed during the late afternoon. Maddox stated that because the scan was taken during the daytime, the reported acreage is likely to change and possibly decrease with additional surveying.
Maddox explained that smoke from the fires emits heat, and during the day, even things like large boulders heated by sunlight can impact readings from the infrared technology.
UPDATE: August 3, 2025 at 5:09 p.m.
The Lightning Creek Fire is currently burning between 600 and 700 acres, and remains at 0% containment, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Officials warned residents in Clark Fork to expect heavy fire personnel traffic in the area, especially on South River Road.
The fire is growing rapidly through the Cougar Fire burn scar, as a result of abundant dead vegetation fuel covering the ground in the area.
The closure of Lighting Creek Road (FSR 419) from Trestle Creek Road (FSR 275) to Regal Creek remains in place, and there is a temporary flight restriction in the area as well.
No evacuation orders have been issued by officials for the Lightning Creek Fire.
SANDPOINT, Idaho – A wildfire, known as the Lightning Creek Fire, is currently burning around 250 acres, the U.S. Forest Service reported.
The fire, which ignited on July 30 about 8 miles northeast of Hope, has been difficult to contain due to challenging terrain and storm weather. These conditions have hindered ground crew access and grounded air support at times, preventing firefighters from establishing a complete fire line around the blaze.
To aid in containment efforts, additional resources have been ordered, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Lighting Creek Road (FSR 419) has been closed from Trestle Creek Road (FSR 275) to Regal Creek. Officials stated there may be additional closures in the area.
Article originally published August 2, 2025 at 6:38 p.m.
