COEUR d'ALENE - Three more fires were sparked on Tubbs Hill over the weekend, making a total of 14 fires in the park since the beginning of this year.

"That's twice as many as we typically have in a year," said Glenn Lauper, deputy fire chief for Coeur d'Alene Fire.

Lauper said two fires, which appear to be human-caused, were started about 100 feet up the hill from the dog park at McEuen field. The fire only burned about 625 square feet, but as firefighters were putting it out they spotted another fire about 50 feet away.

Then around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, firefighters were called to a third fire on the eastern part of Tubbs Hill.

"That one was a little more than a quarter-acre in size," Lauper said. "We were able to use the fire boat and a hydrant at the top of the hill to put that one out."

Lauper said there has been some talk of closing the U.S. National Forests because of the extreme fire conditions, but closing Tubbs for the fire season would have to be decided by the Parks Department and the Coeur d'Alene City Council.

So far, Lauper said, he hasn't heard if that is even being considered.

"We have been fortunate and I mean very fortunate that we've been able to keep these fires down to under an acre," he said, adding that anybody who smells or sees smoke on the hill should call 911 immediately.

Lauper also wanted to remind residents that smoking, campfires and fireworks are all illegal activities on Tubbs Hill according to city ordinances.