Northern Lakes Fire: North Idaho should be ready for wildfires
Firefighters in action on a hillside in North Idaho.
Photo courtesy Northern Lakes Fire District
Northern Lakes Fire District is urging residents to take extra precautions in May, which is Wildfire Preparedness Month.
Despite recent rainfall, North Idaho remains well below average in precipitation, and the district has already responded to more outdoor wildfires this year compared to the same time in 2024, a press release said.
Outdoor burning escaping containment has been a growing concern. To address this, Northern Lakes Fire District, along with the Kootenai County Fire Prevention Cooperative, launched a wildfire safety education campaign May 12, focusing on first graders.
As part of the outreach, the Fire Prevention Co-Op will visit 25 elementary schools, reaching more than 1,700 students.
Volunteers from East Side Fire District, the U.S. Forest Service and surrounding fire departments are helping deliver the message through a puppet show featuring Smokey Bear and friends.
To reinforce what they’ve learned, first graders who go home and teach their families about fire safety can return a signed safety ticket to their teacher for a chance to win outdoor gear donated by the Kootenai County Fire Prevention Co-Op. Entries are due May 28.
Living in Wildfire Country — June 7
The Kootenai County Office of Emergency Management, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, Kootenai County Fire Smart and Timberlake Fire District, invites the public to attend a free community wildfire preparedness event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Athol Community Center.
Burn Permit Reminder
Open burning closed May 10 and will remain restricted through Oct. 20. Free burn permits are required for all outdoor burning in the Northern Lakes Fire District, including the cities of Hayden, Hayden Lake and Rathdrum. Permits can be obtained at burnpermits.idaho.gov.