Firefighters in Asotin, Latah counties bracing for possible thunderstorms today

Firefighters battling the Texas Fire near Kendrick and the Cougar Fire near the Grande Ronde River in Asotin County are bracing for the possibility of thunderstorms this afternoon.

It now appears the unsettled weather may arrive later than expected.

“The current short-term models have activity starting over the Blue Mountains about 7 p.m. and it will be continuing to (the Lewiston area) possibly not until about 11 p.m.,” said Joey Clevenger of the National Weather Service at Spokane.

The high temperatures that were forecast for north central Idaho and southeastern Washington today are being muted by smoke from fires and by high-level clouds moving ahead of the thunder storms.

“The smoke definitely kind of threw a wrench in the high (forecast) for the area today,” Clevenger said.

The Texas Fire east and north of Kendrick remains 0% contained, according to the latest report from the Idaho Department of Lands. The estimated size of the fire that has destroyed four homes remains at about 1,300 acres. Firefighters are working to build containment.

What is known as a robust Type 3 Incident Management team will take control of firefighting efforts at 6 a.m. Thursday. Type 3 teams are generally smaller than Type 1 and Type 2 teams but Idaho Department of Lands Fire Information Officer Nick Carter said the team that will set up at Deary High School is described as robust because it will be beefed up with the types of resources that typically come with larger teams.