COEUR d'ALENE - Firefighters are striving to establish containment lines around the ever-growing wildfires before another storm system moves through North Idaho later this week.

The National Weather Service issued a high wind advisory on Tuesday, saying a cold front is expected to settle into the Inland Northwest on Thursday and Friday, bringing with it very strong winds and a chance of thunderstorms but very little rain.

Fire officials have raised the fire danger rating to its highest possible level of "Extreme" and now the National Wildfire Preparedness level has also been moved to its highest tier of five.

"Fires will start easily, spread rapidly, have a quick increase in intensity and can be very difficult to control," according to an update sheet issued by the Idaho Panhandle National Forest on Tuesday.

According to the update, firefighters are battling 48 active fires with only 17 of them contained.

Some of the most active fires have now been deemed "complex fires" because they are burning so close to each other.

Here is the latest on the most active fires:

* Parker Ridge Fire has grown to 6,147 acres and remains zero percent contained. It is burning northwest of Bonners Ferry. Evacuations are in effect in the Westside Road area and defensive lines are in place. Crews are prepping in the north flank of the fire in anticipation of the forecasted winds on Thursday. Road and trail closures are in place for Parker Ridge Trail, Fisher Peak Trail and the Long Canyon Trail.

* Marble Creek Fire has grown to 1,024 acres and remains zero percent contained. It is burning in the St. Joe Ranger District. This fire was fairly inactive Monday with isolated group torching. Firefighters worked on the southwest flank building an anchor point, direct line and a fuel break using excavators, skidders, backhoes and dozers.

* Crater Fire is now at 320 acres in size and is burning 10 miles south and east of the Marble Creek Fire near the 301 road. The Bureau of Land Management and the St. Joe Ranger District have closed their lands in that area.

* The main Grizzly Complex fire is at 920 acres in size, and now includes several fires. The North Grizzly is roughly 600 acres, the Lower Flat fire is more than 100 acres and small fires all smaller than 10 acres include: North Suburban, East Suburban, South Suburban, Upper Stoney, Lower Stoney, Downey, and Grizzly Ridge.

* The Not Creative Fire is only about 135 acres in size and is 60 percent contained. It has been upgraded to a Type II fire. It is burning four miles north of Rose Lake on the south side of Interstate 90. Significant progress was made Monday constructing fire line and the entire perimeter has line and hose. Crews will continue to improve fire line in preparation for forecasted winds on Thursday. Crews will continue to work on hot spots within the fire perimeter and removing hazard trees from the line. Residents are encouraged to register with Kootenai County Sheriff.

* The Clark Fork Complex includes Scotchman Peak and Whitetail Fire (east of Lake Pend Oreille). A Type 2 fire team will take over the complex on Thursday. The Scotchman Peak Fire has grown to 2,700 acres including multiple spot fires. It is burning northeast of Clark Fork. The Fire is north of Highway 200 in the Sandpoint Ranger District. Fire activity was active Monday with the fire spreading to the northeast, and burning on the east side of the peak in the Blue Creek drainage. Several trails are closed in the area including Scotchman Peak Trail, Goat Mountain, Regal, Morris and the East Fork Trail System.

* Whitetail Fire, which was at 450 acres on Sunday is south of Highway 200 and south of Clark Fork in the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District. Fire activity has been quiet, and creeping with isolated single tree torching. It is burning on the southeast flank of the peak in the "Deer Creek" area. Closures include: Forest Roads 430, 332, 332A, 203, 203A, 203B, 203E, and 1533; Forest Trails 20 (Coeur d'Alene River NRT), 52 (Alden Creek), 448 (Deer Creek), 77, 122.

* Tower Fire has expanded to 7,743 acres in Washington. It is 1 percent contained. Area Command has taken charge of all fires in the Colville National Forest including oversight for the Tower Fire. The Tower Fire is being managed by the Colville National Forest with guidance from IPNF fire management. Fire growth Monday occurred mostly to the east and southeast. Crews and aircraft have made progress in securing the west side of the fire.

* Big Lost Fire is at 1,280 acres zero percent contained. It is burning east of Potlatch near Highway 6, and 10 miles south of Emida. The road closure has been lifted. The Laird Park and White Pine Campgrounds, which includes the Grizzly Boy Scout Camp, have been evacuated and are closed. Crews have established a dozer line around the fire perimeter and are starting direct attack while locating and managing spot fires.

* The main Snow Peak Complex fire is at 126 acres and the complex includes the following fires: Ruby Point, 78 acres; Basin Creek, 36 acres; and small fires less than 10 acres - Trail 55, Caribou, Lightning Ridge, Chicadee, Game, Pole Creek, My Ruby and Salt Pork.

Residents in most counties throughout North Idaho can receive evacuation notices by text message by registering with a service called "Nixle." To register, text your ZIP code to 888777 for mobile alerts. It is a free citizen voice and text alert notification service used to contact people during urgent or emergency situations with useful information and updates by sending voice, text or email messages to phones including VOIP, cellphones, pagers, or smartphones and email accounts.