Fire danger increased to high

Fire officials in Kootenai County have raised the fire danger level to high.

Friday’s high temperature in the Coeur d’Alene area was 95, not 100 degrees as forecast, but sustained rising temperatures and low humidity levels prompted the county’s fire chiefs and Idaho Department of Lands officials in the Mica District to make the call to elevate the fire danger potential.

Raising the fire danger level from moderate to high closes burn permits for yard waste. Current permits to burn yard waste are good until the expiration date, no more than 10 days from Friday.

Fire officials advised residents that anyone burning yard waste should be prepared to provide a copy of a permit to fire deparment personnel if asked.

Burn barrels are still being allowed at this time, but permits will be limited to 10 days. The statewide burn permit program allows burn permits for burn barrels if the jurisdiction allows them.

IDL and the Kootenai County fire chiefs will re-evaluate the conditions next week. More restrictions may be placed.

As of Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was reporting 50 percent of all available fire crews are working on supressing fires, primarily in the western U.S.