Tribal elder inspires Seepay fire workers

SEELY – Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Elder Pat Pierre inspired firefighters at 7 a.m. briefing today (Aug. 17.) with a homily delivered in Salish and English.

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Elder Pat Pierre inspired Seepay firefighters at a 7 a.m. briefing Sunday with a homily delivered in Salish and English.

Pierre related his experiences growing up in the Perma area and contrasting the fire behavior of today with the less intense and less destructive fires of his childhood and thanked the assembled firefighters for all their efforts, according to an Inciweb press release.

As of Aug. 16, the Seepay fire grew to 1,050 acres, has 200 firefighters on scene and has transferred command from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe Type 3 Team to the Hutton’s Wildland Fire Management Team.

Firefighters conducted an infra-red nighttime flight Aug. 16 showed considerably reduced heat across the fire with the majority of the hot spots located on the western flank, the press release said.

Crews and heavy equipment worked together to construct fire-lines while continuing to root out spot fires. Today’s weather forecast calls for sunny conditions but relative humidity will be at levels higher than usually association with active fire behavior.

Road Closures: Seepay Creek Road from Highway 200.

Revais, Magpie, and Vanderberg Creek roads are closed from the top over into Seepay.

The public can still drive up to top of Revais, Magpie, and Vanderberg.