Gwen wildfire grows in size, evacuations remain in place

The wildfire blazing in southern Latah County and northern Nez Perce County along the Clearwater River have spread to a combined 20,000 acres as of Friday afternoon, according to the Idaho Department of Lands.

IDL is officially combining Gwen and River fires into one incident called the Gwen Fire. The wildfire is 0% contained as of Friday evening.

The Gwen Fire, which was sparked by Wednesday’s lightning, forced the entire town of Juliaetta to evacuate.

The Latah County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday evening that Kendrick is now in a level 2 evacuation zone. The flames are south of Kendrick and were moving east Friday.

“All those now being placed in a level 2 evacuation should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice and this may be your final notification,” the Sheriff’s Office announced on its Facebook page.

The level 2 zone also extends to the areas of Cedar Ridge Road, American Ridge Road, Little Bear Ridge Road and Brocke Road.

It has closed Idaho Highway 3 from Kendrick to Arrow Bridge, and U.S. Highway 12 from Spalding to Peck, according to the Idaho Transportation Department. In addition, Gifford Reubens Road is closed.

IDL says primary residences, outbuildings and a commercial building are among the structures lost. Structure assessments are underway to further evaluate the extent of the losses.There are approximately 300 evacuees.

Photos and updates circulating from community members on Facebook show that Colter’s Creek Vineyard and Winery near Juliaetta was likely destroyed by the blaze. Rivaura Winery in Juliaetta announced on its Facebook page that its vineyards and tasting room were not destroyed by the flames.

IDL says firefighters are making “good progress” in creating containment lines around the fire. Aircraft providing fire suppression overhead has been effective in supporting ground crews. There are approximately 200 personnel responding to the fire.

The Juliaetta Post Office is closed because of the fire. Its mail services have been moved to the Kendrick Post Office at 703 E. Main St. in Kendrick. Customers can pick up their mail at this location until further notice. They must bring a proper photo ID to make mail and package pickups.

Many locations on the Palouse and in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley are being transformed into shelters for the people and animals displaced by the blaze.

Red Cross volunteer Autumn Gibson said a handful of people used the Latah County Fairgrounds as a temporary shelter and brought with them goats, cats and rabbits. One couple stayed there Thursday night into Friday, she said.

The shelter offered food, water, hygiene kits, cots and blankets to those displaced by the fire. Gibson said the Red Cross will stay there until the evacuations are lifted.

“We’ll be here as long as they need us,” she said.

Other shelters have been set up at the Nez Perce County and Asotin County fairgrounds and the Methodist Church in Lapwai.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lewis Clark Valley are inviting families with children in grades K-5 to participate in their summer programs if they have been displaced by the fires. A news release from the Boys & Girls Club said the programs will give children a safe place to stay and be supervised while parents deal with their difficult situations.

The summer program operates from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and all participants get free lunch. There are two locations in Lewiston and one location in Clarkston.

Many local businesses are accepting donated supplies to send to the victims of the fire.

Refined Realty at 909 Bryden Ave. in Lewiston collected items like nonperishable foods, toiletries, clothes and water, real estate agent Chelsea Blewett said.

Blewett said the supplies will be taken to people staying at the Nez Perce County Fairgrounds and to a location in Kendrick.

She said people were already showing up to Refined Realty with donated supplies as early as Friday afternoon.

“That’s what this community is really good about is when people are in need, Lewiston shows up,” she said.

Guy’s Outdoor Motorsports and Marine at 1701 Main St. in Lewiston also collected donated supplies for the Red Cross and area shelters.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.