April 22, 2021
12 p.m. Pacific Time

(Juliaetta, Idaho) The Juliaetta Fire started April 21 around noon Pacific Time and grew to 20 acres. Between 15 to 20 structures were threatened in the area of this small town which is about 30 miles northeast of Lewiston, Idaho. However, evacuations were not necessary, and structures are no longer threatened at this time. The fire is currently smoldering, which means it is burning without flame and barely spreading. There are some smokes visible in the area. Resources remain on the scene.

The fire burned in steep, rocky terrain and a helicopter dropped water on the fire. Idaho Department of Lands Fire Management wants to thank the Juliaetta Volunteer Fire Department, Kendrick Volunteer Fire Department, USDA Forest Service and Nez Perce Tribe Forestry and Fire Management for their assistance on the fire.

No structures were damaged or destroyed and there are no reported injuries. The cause is under investigation.

“It is unusual to have conditions so dry at this point in the spring. We have seen an increase in fire starts and we ask the public to be very careful with burning,” said Mike McManus, Juliaetta Fire Incident Commander. “This fire was burning across rocks, and it is uncharacteristic for a fire to be able to burn like that at this point in the season.”

Pictures are from early in the fire, from April 21.

Robbie Johnson, Idaho Department of Lands Public Information Officer
(208) 908-1786 - pio@idl.idaho.gov