Firefighters made significant progress Tuesday against a fast-moving wildfire that broke out near Highway 95 north of Lewiston, bringing the blaze to 75% containment after initially reporting no containment when the fire began.
The fire, designated the Mile Marker 315 Fire, ignited around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and spread across an estimated 90 acres of steep, grassy canyon terrain mixed with brush and timber — conditions that can make firefighting efforts difficult and unpredictable.
As many as 10 to 20 structures were threatened at the height of the fire, though no structures had been lost as of the most recent update. Crews were able to protect all threatened properties while working the rugged terrain.
Despite the size and location of the blaze, authorities had not issued evacuation orders, and Highway 95 remained open with no road closures in effect. The absence of evacuations and road restrictions allowed residents and travelers to continue normal activity while fire crews worked the fire lines.
What Comes Next
With containment at 75%, firefighters will continue working to establish full control of the Mile Marker 315 Fire. The steep, timbered terrain north of Lewiston can pose challenges for mop-up operations even after initial containment is achieved. Residents in the area should remain alert to any new updates from local emergency management officials, as conditions in steep canyon terrain can shift quickly during summer fire season. No timeline for full containment had been announced as of the latest report.