Officials boost fire danger to extreme

The onslaught of fires continues to ravage areas in Idaho as the fire danger rating is elevated to the highest level of "extreme."

According to the daily wildfire update issued Sunday by the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, Stage II fire restrictions are in effect within Coeur d'Alene and Grangeville Dispatch Restriction areas as fires are starting and spreading rapidly, quickly increasing in intensity and are extremely difficult to control. The days will be smoky and cloudy as agencies strive to control the wildfires.

Stage II fire restrictions prohibit building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or wood stove; smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated smoking site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials; and operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails in accordance with existing travel management plans for non-commercial purposes including ATVs, UTVs and pickups.

The following acts are prohibited from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.: operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine for felling, bucking, skidding, processing, road building, woodcutting or any other off-road activity during industrial operations; blasting, welding or other activities that generate flame or flammable material; and using explosives.

New closures include the Crater Lake and Widow Mountain areas. Under these orders, the public is prohibited to go into or be upon these roads and trails: Bonners Ferry Ranger District due to Parker Ridge Fire - Parker Creek Trail No. 14, Long Canyon Trail No. 16 and Parker Ridge Trail No. 221 (Sections 7 and 8 of T64N, R1W and sections 12, 13, 14, 15, 2, and 27 of R2W) and the Fisher Peak Trail; Sandpoint Ranger District due to Scotchman Peak Fire - Trails on and around Scotchman Peak are closed. Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District due to the Bennett Peak Fire Closure - Forest Road No. 602 (Little Guard Road) and Forest Trail No. 81 (Shoshone Ridge); and the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District due to the Grizzly Mountain Fire - Forest Roads No. 260, No. 959, No. 993, No. 994, No. 1568 and Forest Trails No. 807 (Indian Creek) and 807A (Indian Creek).

Here is the incident summary listing of active fires:

n Parker Ridge Fire is at 6,139 acres. It is a Type 3 fire that grew significantly Friday, however Saturday the fire behavior settled down. The fire made no movement to the north. Evacuations are in effect on the Westside Road area and defensive lines are in place. No homes have been lost. Road and trail closures are in place.

n Marble Creek Fire is at 620 acres and is zero percent contained. It started Aug. 11 near St. Joe Road. It is a Type 3 fire.

n Crater Fire is at 320 acres and began Saturday. The fire is 10 miles south-southeast of the Marble Creek Fire near the 301 road.

n North Grizzly Fire is at 400 acres and began Aug. 12. It is a Type 3 fire that is making significant runs to the east/northeast.

n Not Creative Fire is at 100 acres and 25 percent contained. It began Aug. 13. It's a Type 3 fire. Crews are working to line the fire on the steep western flank, holding established fire lines on the north (I-90), east and southern flanks and on the ridge four miles north of Rose Lake. Residents are encouraged to register with Kootenai County Sheriff.

n Scotchman Peak Fire is at 2,000 acres and began Aug. 13. It is located east of Clark Fork, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, where there is a closure of trail systems.

n Tower Fire has grown to 5,761 acres in Idaho with 1 percent containment. Crews will continue to build a dozer line on the south and west flanks of the fire. Bucket work occurred in the northeastern flank on a spot fire. The fire is growing to the north and Saturday moved 6 and-a-half miles. The fire started in Colville National Forest, is visible from Priest Lake and came east of South Baldy Mountain. It is a Type 3 fire.

n Big Lost Fire is at 1,280 acres and started east of Potlatch near Highway 6. It's a Type 3 fire. Road closure has been lifted.

n Benewah Creek Fire is at 34 acres and started Aug. 13 in the West St. Joe area. It is 50 percent contained and was downgraded from a Type 3 to Type 4 fire.

n Slaughter House Fire is still at 47 acres. It started Aug. 10 in the West St. Joe area.