A vehicle fire along U.S. Highway 95 on Lewiston Hill sparked a fast-moving wildfire Tuesday afternoon that scorched approximately 90 acres across steep terrain near Hatwai Canyon, threatening between 10 and 20 residences and drawing more than 60 firefighters to the scene.
The fire broke out around 2:30 p.m. along the highway’s shoulder between mile markers 315 and 316 and quickly spread into the canyon’s grassy slopes, brush, and scattered timber. A Regional Red Flag Warning was in effect at the time, with high temperatures and gusty winds fueling the fire’s rapid advance.
As of approximately 8 p.m., the blaze remained at 0% containment despite a major multi-agency suppression effort. No structures had been lost and no evacuation notices were issued for nearby residents, though the situation remained active and fluid.
Multi-Agency Response Mobilized
Initial firefighting efforts were jointly managed by Nez Perce County, the Nez Perce Tribe, and the Idaho Department of Lands. By late afternoon, the Idaho Department of Lands assumed lead management of the operation. Ground crews, brush trucks, and engines worked alongside a Type 1 Chinook helicopter pulling water from the Clearwater River. The Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association and the Teakean Hand Crew also contributed to suppression efforts, bringing the total workforce to roughly 65 personnel.
Nez Perce County Fire Chief Pat Showers described the urgency of the situation as crews worked to keep the fire from advancing into populated areas. “I’m dealing with lots of wind and hot spots. It’s headed down toward Eaton’s Trailer Court and the Casino. We are trying to stop it in the canyon before it gets down into Central Grade,” Showers said.
He also noted the fire’s behavior on the steep terrain made suppression particularly difficult. “It burned pretty quickly and hot, so it left a lot of vegetation,” Showers said, indicating considerable fuel remained available to feed continued fire spread.
Highway 95 Partially Restricted; No Evacuations
Despite the scale of the fire, U.S. Highway 95 remained open to through traffic. Crews closed the right lane of the northbound side of the highway to accommodate fire vehicles, while the left lane stayed accessible to motorists. The stretch of highway climbs roughly 2,000 feet in elevation across Lewiston Hill, giving the fire ample vertical terrain to work with under windy conditions.
No evacuation orders or notices were issued as of the last update, though the proximity of the fire to residential areas near Central Grade kept the threat level elevated for local homeowners.
The combination of dry grass, wind-driven spread, and difficult canyon topography presented serious challenges for firefighters working to establish containment lines before nightfall. Similar conditions have contributed to fast-moving fires across the region this season. A recent wildfire near Spokane burned 4.5 acres before crews achieved containment, underscoring how quickly vegetation fires can develop under Red Flag conditions.
What Comes Next
With the fire at zero containment and hot spots still active as evening set in, crews were expected to work through the night to establish perimeter control and protect structures near Hatwai Canyon. The Idaho Department of Lands will continue leading suppression operations. Residents near the affected area should monitor official channels for any changes in evacuation status, and drivers on Highway 95 should anticipate continued traffic restrictions in the fire zone. Lewiston has seen several significant fire incidents in recent weeks, keeping local emergency responders on high alert heading into the summer fire season.