Planned burns to begin

Traffic on Interstate 90 near Coeur d'Alene could be affected by prescribed burning expected to begin today.

The Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District plans to conduct prescribed burning on national forest system lands in several areas across the district over the next few days.

Prescribed burning will occur in Wolf Lodge and Blue Creek. About 150 acres of harvest-generated fuel will be burned, and smoke from these burns will be highly visible from Interstate 90 and the Fernan area.

"Harvest units are near roads, so it is possible motorists could be delayed for short periods due to heat and smoke near the road," district officials noted in a press release. "Signs will be posted to warn drivers of prescribed burning operations."

Burning of several large brushfields will be completed in the Spion Kop, Cinnamon, Taft, Brett, Lost and West Elk Creek areas.

A helicopter will be used to ignite about 2,000 acres within the Upper River Burning project area, and burning will occur for a period of 2-3 days.

Info: www.northidahorxfire.com or 1-800-232-FIRE.