UPDATE: July 4, 2025 11:02 a.m.
The Nettleton Gulch Fire is now 100% contained, according to the North Idaho Type 3 Incident Management Team.
Closures in the area remain in place for public and firefighter safety and access.
All Forest Service lands, roads, and trails west of Fernan Road (FSR 268), all FS lands, roads, and trails west of FSR 1525 and south of Yellow Banks Creek, and all FS lands roads, and trails south of Hayden Lake are closed at this time. This closure does not include FSR 268 or 1535.
The report sent out by the management team says that today’s operations will include demobilization of personnel and equipment backhaul.
Suppression repair efforts are also underway today, focusing on minimizing the impact of firefighting efforts on the area and returning the impacted area to its natural state.
After today’s shift, management of the fire will be turned over to Idaho Department of Lands Mica District. Inquiries about the incident can be directed to their district office at (208)-769-1577.
UPDATE: July 3 at 6:10 p.m.
The fire is now 75% contained, according to the North Idaho Type 3 Incident Management Team.
The fire, which spans 23 acres, saw forward progression halted, the team said in a release.
Today’s efforts included continued mop up and demobilization of personnel and equipment. Crews worked to extinguish remaining hot spots using water and hand tools.
Firefighters received support from a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team to help cope with the stress of the situation. Therapy dogs were present, providing comfort during the last two operational days.
The Temporary Flight Restriction in the area has been lifted as of 6:00 p.m. today. However, several Forest Service lands, roads, and trails remain closed for safety and access.
The fire, reported on June 29, 2025, is under investigation by the Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Office, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Fire Crews now confirm that 50% of the Nettleton Gulch fire is contained. The Kootenai County Sherrif’s Office identified 20-year-old Wess Roley as a suspect in the fire that drew first responders to the area before shots were fired at the firefighters.
That fire, which began on a Sunday, has been challenging to contain. As of 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the fire was 50% contained and had spread over 23 acres.
Firefighters are using a location known as a “drop point” to pump water up Canthill Mountain, where efforts are ongoing to manage the fire.
Michael McManus, the incident commander in charge of the Gulch Fire, emphasized the priority of firefighter and public safety.
“Firefighter and public safety, that’s our number one priority,” McManus said.
Due to the threat caused by gunfire, fire crews initially had to delay their attack on the fire.
McManus stated that his teams are now actively involved and doing everything possible to tackle the situation.
“The structural fire departments that we work with, those are our cooperators and it’s hard for them,” McManus said of the loss of two firefighters in the attack.
Despite the fire’s size, McManus explained his presence as incident commander was due to the nature of the fire.
“It’s unusual to have an incident commander at a fire of this size,” McManus said.
Fire crews have made progress, but they warn that the absence of smoke does not mean the fire is extinguished.
“You don’t see any smoke because we’ve taken a lot of intensity out of it,” a McManus explained.
Due to the ongoing operation and risks to public safety, the Nettleton Gulch area will remain closed and will not reopen in time for the Fourth of July celebrations.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE: July 2 at 7:02 p.m.
