Reporter: LuVerne Grussing

Site or Address: One half mile up Cottonwood Creek, off Reubens/Gifford Rd

Cause: High winds blew tree over power line, breaking an 18,000 volt line which was arcing and sparking in brush underneath the line.

AJFPD Vehicles Responding: Chevy Crew Cab

Other Departments Responding: None

AJFPD Members Responding, Activities, and Hours:
Nez Perce County Dispatch sent out a fire call at 4:34 am, November 5, 2022 reporting a downed powerline that was arcing and igniting nearby brush, and potentially a camper on fire. LuVerne Grussing, Gene Wightman, Jim Sherman, Ben Smith, Mike Erickson, Connie Marshall and Khristie Pascoe responded to the Fire Station. Grussing, Sherman, Wightman, and Smith departed the Fire Station in the Chevy Crew Cab, while Erickson, Marshall, and Pascoe awaited further information on additional personnel and equipment that might be needed.

The Nez Perce County Sheriff had the Reubens/Gifford Road blocked off at Highway 12 and at the south end of the scene near the Cottonwood Community Church. When we arrived at the downed power line, it was indeed arcing and sparking, but thanks to very heavy rains on November 4, the brush and nearby trees were very wet and did not catch fire. We called the crew remaining at the Fire Station to let them know that no further assistance was needed. The AJFPD crew remained on site as a precaution until Clearwater Power arrived to cut power to the line. We assisted Clearwater Power by towing their boom truck which had mired down in the mud, and were released from the site and returned to the Fire Station at 9:25 am.

AJFPD personnel responding:
Jim Sherman
LuVerne Grussing
Ben Smith
Gene Wightman
Mike Erickson
Connie Marshall
Khristie Pascoe

Reporter: LuVerne Grussing

Site or Address: Range fire up Catholic Creek reported by patron Kristy Stedman

Cause: Lightning

AJFPD Vehicles Responding: Freightliner Tanker

Other Departments Responding: Nez Perce County FD, Genesee Fire District, Nez Perce Tribal Fire , Idaho Department of Lands

AJFPD Members Responding, Activities, and Hours:
At 8:30 pm on Saturday, September 3, LuVerne Grussing and Jim Sherman responded to patrons call re: Fire in the Catholic Creek drainage. Fire had started with a lightening strike in the Genesee fire district, and advanced Northeast and down Catholic Creek into the Arrow Junction Fire District. Genesee Fire and Nez Perce County, and Nez Perce Tribal Fire were initially called out; AJFPD was not called out due to fire starting outside our District. After scouting fire and talking with patrons, we planned a return at 6:00 on September 4 to provide assistance as needed. At 5:30 am on September 4, LuVerne Grussing was able to establish contact with the incident commander for the fire, Jeff Handel of Nez Perce Tribal Fire. He requested that AJFPD proceed up Catholic Creek with our tanker, and provide spotting services and water if needed to refill brush truck tanks. Jim Sherman, Damian McWilliams, and LuVerne Grussing proceeded to Catholic Creek at 6:00 am on September 4 with the Freightliner tanker and 2 private vehicles. Damian McWilliams went with land owner Clint Zenner to put out hot spots that were beginning to flare up. Jim Sherman and LuVerne Grussing stayed with the truck and remained in communication with the incident command team and local AJFPD patrons and landowners. At 10:30 AM, after the arrival of an air support unit (helicopter), we were released from the fire by the incident commander, and we returned to the station.

AJFPD personnel responding:
Jim Sherman
LuVerne Grussing
Damien McWilliams

We recommend developing mutual aid agreement with Nez Perce Tribal Fire, as they are often the first responders to fires in our area, and much of our district boundaries overlap with their area of responsibility.

Reporter: LuVerne Grussing

Site or Address: 26076 Myrtle Main St, Myrtle ID

Cause: House Fire, cause unknown

AJFPD Vehicles Responding: Freightliner fire truck

Other Departments Responding: Nez Perce County Fire, Lapwai Fire

AJFPD Members Responding, Activities, and Hours:
Fire Alarm was received from Nez Perce County Dispatch at 1:44 am requesting mutual aid assistance. Three volunteers responded, and took the Freightliner to Myrtle to provide additional water for the Nez Perce County and Lapwai Fire units who had been called out initially. AJFPD assisted in keeping the fire down and keeping it from spreading to neighboring residences and property.

AJFPD personnel responding:
Gene Wightman
Ben Smith
Damien McWilliams

Problems Encountered:
Nez Perce County Dispatch sent out a fire call to Nez Perce County, (and they called Lapwai Fire) at approximately 12:40 am. AJFPD was not called out until 1:44 am when additional water was needed. Since there are 10 AJFPD subscribers in Myrtle, AJFPD needs to be a first responder to any fire call in Myrtle. This needs to be firmed up with both Dispatch and Nez Perce County Fire.

Reporter: Jim Sherman

Site or Address: Mile Marker 14, U.S. Highway 12.

Cause: Overheated trailer brakers.

AJFPD Vehicles Responding: Chevy Fire Truck

Other Departments Responding: Nez Perce Tribal Fire

AJFPD Members Responding, Activities, and Hours:
At 8:30 pm on Saturday, September 3, LuVerne Grussing and Jim Sherman responded to patrons call re: Fire in the Catholic Creek drainage. Fire had started with a lightening strike in the Genesee fire district, and advanced Northeast and down Catholic Creek into the Arrow Junction Fire District. Genesee Fire and Nez Perce County, and Nez Perce Tribal Fire were initially called out; AJFPD was not called out due to fire starting outside our District. After scouting fire and talking with patrons, we planned a return at 6:00 on September 4 to provide assistance as needed. At 5:30 am on September 4, LuVerne Grussing was able to establish contact with the incident commander for the fire, Jeff Handel of Nez Perce Tribal Fire. He requested that AJFPD proceed up Catholic Creek with our tanker, and provide spotting services and water if needed to refill brush truck tanks. Jim Sherman, Damian McWilliams, and LuVerne Grussing proceeded to Catholic Creek at 6:00 am on September 4 with the Freightliner tanker and 2 private vehicles. Damian McWilliams went with land owner Clint Zenner to put out hot spots that were beginning to flare up. Jim Sherman and LuVerne Grussing stayed with the truck and remained in communication with the incident command team and local AJFPD patrons and landowners. At 10:30 AM, after the arrival of an air support unit (helicopter), we were released from the fire by the incident commander, and we returned to the station.

AJFPD personnel responding:
Jim Sherman
Wes Sanborn
Gene Wightman
Todd Hewett
Darren Williams
Russ Zenner