HARVARD, ID – A section of the local National Forest remains closed as deer season starts on Friday in Idaho.
It’s unclear why the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in North Latah County remains closed. The federal government shutdown appears to have affected the U.S. Forest Service, as the agency hasn’t responded to questions about the closures.
The section of forest East of State Highway 6, North of Harvard, was closed on Labor Day weekend when the White Pine Fire broke out. The latest official update on the fire from federal officials issued Monday shows that it’s 93% contained at about 1,000 acres.
There are no reports that any firefighting personnel are still on scene. The last update from the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise estimated that the White Pine Fire would be fully contained on Halloween.
The Giant White Pine Campground and Laird Park Campground, North of Harvard, remain closed.
Those parks were shuttered when the blaze erupted in August. It’s not clear if the campgrounds are currently closed due to the shutdown or the fire. USFS roads near the burn scar remain closed as well.
