Fire danger 'very high'

Fire danger in Kootenai County was raised to "very high" Sunday as Stage 2 fire restrictions began just after midnight.

The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department reported Tuesday the fire danger status was raised after a prolonged weather pattern of high heat and low precipitation.

Stage 2 includes "hoot owl" restrictions on the use of chain saws and other equipment powered by internal combustion engines in forested areas, as well as a total ban on outdoor recreational fires and burning.

Blasting, welding and activities that produce flames or flammable material or the use of explosives are also prohibited from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Propane-fueled firepits and barbecues are still allowed as long as they are used in areas cleared of all vegetation.

"As we saw this past weekend, resources are spread thin between multiple fire locations," Coeur d'Alene Fire said in a Tuesday news release. "This has also led to raising the national preparedness level to Level 4, which means most resources are being used on active fires and may be delayed if new fires start and grow."

PARKWAY FIRE 100% CONTAINED

The human-caused Parkway Fire that began Friday just west of Q’emiln Park in Post Falls is now 100% contained.

Idaho Department of Lands reported emergency management crews will turn command back over to local authorities to fully extinguish the blaze.

“From the moment the Parkway Fire was discovered, it was all hands on deck,” Incident Commander Nate Rogers said in a Department of Lands news release Tuesday morning."

He said Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Kootenai County Emergency Management, Post Falls Police Department and others contributed to saving lives and property.

Heavy air attack played a pivotal role in giving firefighters the time and physical space they needed to save structures.

“Aircraft provided by the U.S. Forest Service in the first hours of the attack were especially helpful,” Rogers said.

The new concern for firefighters is the destruction that lies in the fire's wake.

The Department of Lands shared data and mapping from the fire with the Post Falls Parks and Recreation Department, which will use the data to guide recovery plans in the park and on the trails.

The fire charred many trees that are now at risk of falling. Work to remove them will begin with firefighters taking down the worst of them, Idaho Department of Lands Communications Chief Scott Phillips said. More will have to be removed before winter poses a threat to felling them unexpectedly.

Rock slides are also a concern. Through fall and spring, rain could cause mudslides in the now-damaged landscaping until vegetation begins to recover.

“City and state officials also hiked through burned areas to gain a better understanding of the damage and ongoing risks to the public,” the release continued.

Park officials plan to install fencing along the western edge of the fire Thursday to cordon off some of the most dangerous areas.

Post Falls Parks and Recreation will also develop a plan for safe access to the community forest using fire maps.

Post Falls Police investigators are still seeking tips about who lit the campfire that started the Parkway Fire.

The campfire was located about a quarter of a mile to the north of West Riverview Drive in a steep rocky area of the park, just north of the designated trail in the area.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Post Falls Police Department at 208-773-3517 or email tips to detectives@postfallspolice.gov.

RIDGE CREEK FIRE REMAINS AT 0% CONTAINMENT

In its sixth day, the Ridge Creek Fire just east of the north tip of Hayden Lake along Hayden Creek Road remains at 0% containment and is estimated to be burning at least 1,200 acres. This estimate does not include new data from infrared flights, which have been canceled due to thunderstorms in the area.

"The fire received wetting rains, which slowed the fire for the short term," the U.S. Forest Service — Idaho Panhandle National Forests and Eastern Area Incident Management Team said Tuesday in an update on social media. "Due to the lack of sustained moisture and anticipated weather conditions, it is likely that the fire will become more active in the coming days."

Crews are working on fire lines. Mechanical lines constructed with heavy equipment will are being extended north toward Hudlow Saddle.

Residents within the affected area are being provided with a "GET READY" notification. They are being asked to consider planning and or packing in the event an evacuation becomes necessary. Residents are urged to create and maintain defensible space and harden their homes against the potential for wildfire. The "GET READY" notification still stands for east Hayden Lake residents.

"We have been fortunate to have had a couple days where we received intermittent showers along with substantial cloud cover," the update said.

By Friday, though, weather over the Ridge Creek Fire will be trending toward hotter and dryer with lower humidity.

The Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program is warning of heavy smoke and a moderate air quality index that will affect those with extreme smoke sensitivity.

"Big downed logs and stumps will continue to produce small pockets of heavy smoke for short periods," the smoke outlook states. "Pockets of dried fuels under heavy forest canopy will continue to produce isolated smoke columns visible to Hayden Lake all day."

Firefighting aircraft are still engaged on multiple fires in the area and will continue to use area waterways, including Hayden Lake, for fire suppression supports.

Call 208-446-2292 regarding notifications and evacuation information. Officials are asking that 911 only be called for emergencies.