Fire danger level increased to 'very high'

COEUR d'ALENE - Fire officials raised the fire danger level to "very high" on Wednesday, and the Coeur d'Alene fire officials posted some areas as "extremely" dangerous.

"Tubbs Hill and other open space areas in the city of Coeur d'Alene are posted as EXTREME Fire Danger," Deputy Coeur d'Alene Fire Chief Glenn Lauper wrote in an email to city staff on Wednesday.

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Warren Merritt is changing all KCFR's fire danger warning boards to "very high" as well.

"We are following the Department of Lands and raising it to very high," he said, explaining that it won't affect the Stage 1 fire restrictions that were imposed earlier in the week.

Those restrictions ban all burning except for permitted burning and campfires within an approved campground in an approved fire pit. The ban also prohibits smoking in the woods unless it's done inside a vehicle or within a 3-foot diameter circle that has been cleared of all ignitable materials.

"We have high temperatures and low humidity," Merritt said. "You throw a little wind in there and you have very dangerous conditions."

Merritt echoed all other emergency workers in cautioning anyone using fireworks this weekend to stay safe and use them in a very safe location.

Merritt said KCFR is staffed up and ready.

"Obviously, we plan for the worst and hope for the best," he said.

In the St. Maries Fire District, all burning was banned as of Wednesday.

"Due to the unforeseen circumstances with weather, lack of rain and record low levels in the rivers, effective immediately no burning of any kind will be allowed within the boundaries of St. Maries Fire Protection District," wrote Chief Larry Naccarato. "This includes all trash burning, slash pile burning and all campfires."

Outdoor cooking fires in self-contained stoves and barbecues are still allowed.

"We are also requesting your cooperation in not using fireworks at this time," he wrote, adding that the Harrison fireworks show will be exempt. "With the limited resources available to the St. Maries Fire Protection District, a fire at this time could potentially be devastating to our community."