A wildfire that ignited Tuesday afternoon along Highway 95 north of Lewiston has been brought largely under control, with firefighters stopping its forward spread within hours of the blaze breaking out.
The Mile Marker 315 Fire started around 2:30 p.m. on June 16 and quickly spread through steep, grassy canyon terrain mixed with brush and timber, burning an estimated 108 acres before crews gained the upper hand. By approximately 9 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters had halted the fire’s forward progression and reached 75% containment. Full containment was expected by the end of Wednesday.
No structures were lost, no evacuations were ordered, and no road closures were put in place during the firefighting effort.
Personnel from the Idaho Department of Lands and the U.S. Forest Service worked the incident together, deploying four engines, one hand crew, and one wildland fire module to the scene.
The fire is the latest in a series of grass and brush fires threatening communities in northern Idaho this summer. A vehicle fire earlier this season ignited a 90-acre blaze on Lewiston Hill, prompting concerns about homes in the area.
The steep canyon topography along Highway 95 north of Lewiston is known to present difficult conditions for firefighting crews, as terrain and wind can accelerate fire spread. The rapid containment effort Tuesday evening limited the fire’s overall footprint despite those challenges.
What Comes Next: Crews were expected to continue mop-up operations through Wednesday, working toward full containment. Residents in the area should monitor conditions and remain prepared to act quickly if fire activity resumes. Updates from the Idaho Department of Lands will be posted as containment progresses.