Tensions rise at meeting, but rain helps on Thorne Creek Fire

Tensions are rising among some people in the Thompson Falls community as the Thorne Creek Fire grew to near 18,000 acres earlier this week, but federal fire officials remain confident in their plan to deal with the blaze.

At last Friday’s public meeting, there were a few people critical of the decisions made by U.S. Forest Service fire officials. Some of the criticisms involved the use of aerial and ground ignitions while another complaint involved which areas were priorities for establishing fire lines.

Nevertheless, no structures, such as homes, cabins or outbuildings, have been reported lost in the lightning-caused fire despite its rapid growth between July 23 and Aug. 1.

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 1 Commander Mike Goicoechea, who returned to take over supervision of the fire on July 31, addressed some of the comments and also offered a Bible verse.

“Bringing this fire downslope is our best opportunity, our best chance for success,” Goicoechea said. “I take the responsibility for every firefighter here.”

Goicoechea said he didn’t want to preach to those who attended the meeting, but also said he couldn’t deny his faith and offered a phrase from Luke 12:48.

"From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.”

“If you don’t think I take that seriously, you are fooled,” Goicoechea said.

Goicoechea, who hails from Oklahoma and works for the state’s Forestry Services, said he’s fought a lot of fires on the Lolo National Forest in his 27-year career.

“Through Friday night, we’ve dropped 25,397 gallons of retardant and about 85,000 gallons of water on this fire,” he said. “But on a fire this size, it’s like trying to put out a backyard bonfire with a glass of water.

“Our biggest issues with this fire have been not having enough resources,” Goicoechea said.

It’s a common refrain among fire managers across the country as dozens of wildfires burn across the West.

“But we have some good news to report,” Goicoechea said. “We’ve placed an order for the Montana National Guard members to help with camp security, road blocks and supplying equipment. We’ve also ordered three Type 2 National Guard firefighting crews and they are expected to arrive in the next 72 hours.”

The statement brought a round of applause from community members.

The reaction to firefighting efforts on social media has been very similar. Most people are thankful for crews’ efforts while a few were critical.

During a Sunday afternoon fire briefing, Deputy Incident Commander Mark Goeller detailed the plan for allowing the fire to move where they want it to go.

“We stopped the fire at the Weber Gulch Trailhead Saturday night and our plan is to bring it slowly, gulch by gulch, creek to creek, ridge to ridge, across this face to where we can tie it into the Copper King Fire Scar,” Goeller said.

According to fire officials, Sunday’s rain brought one third of an inch of rain on the peaks with slightly less at lower elevations.

On Monday, firefighters assigned to the north in Division Charlie planned to work along Cougar Peak Road to keep fire from moving over from the Graves Creek drainage. Lines were going to be reinforced, and fire edges cooled with water and retardant delivered from aircraft.

On the eastern flank crews planned to work to establish a continuous fuel break from Thompson River to Fishtrap and scouting for alternate line and control features to slow the fire were planned.

Firefighters working the west and southern flank were coordinating together to suppress any spot fires and use hose lays to secure the indirect fire line. Firing operations may take place, if it is safe to do so and conditions are favorable, along the southern flank to secure containment lines.