COEUR d'ALENE - The U.S. Forest Service has closed most of the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River, the largest emergency closure in Idaho Panhandle National Forest history.

"It was a difficult decision to make and we don't do these things lightly," Jason Kirchner, a spokesman for the IPNF, said Wednesday. "We only did this because it is necessary for the public's safety."

Kirchner said there are at least 20 active fires burning in the area and extremely dangerous weather is approaching North Idaho.

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The North Fork River Road is barricaded near Shoshone Base Camp at the south end of the closure, and Jordan Saddle at the north end of the river basin. 

Kirchner said there are private landowners affected by the closure but the Forest Service will make exceptions for some of them.

Forest Service law enforcement officers and others will be citing anyone who is not authorized to be within the closed area. There are two public relations officers stationed at the gas stations in Kingston to advise the public on the closure.

"We have swept the area and campers are being told to evacuate the area," Kirchner said, adding all of the campgrounds and other recreation sites in the area are now closed.

Meanwhile the South Bobcat Fire is burning at 60 acres in size near Settlers Cedar Grove. Point protection is in place for the ancient cedars and crews are assessing residents near the West Fork of Eagle Creek for structure protection needs.

Kirchner said the fire has burned clear to the edge of the cedar grove that harbors some trees that are more than 1,000 years old.

"We got some sprinklers and firefighters up there to protect the cedars," Kirchner said. "It is one of those fires that have been prioritized."

He said the South Bobcat Fire is still "quite a ways away" from the town of Murray, but there are other fires burning nearby on Taylor Saddle and Murray Peak.

"We are making a lot of progress, but there is still a lot of fire growing out there," he said. "I think we will be fighting some large fires for several weeks to come."

Here is the latest update on the largest and most active fires burning in the Panhandle National Forest:

* Parker Ridge Fire is at 6,139 acres and is 0 percent contained. The Type 3 fire is burning northwest of Bonners Ferry. Evacuations are in effect on the Westside road area and structure protection continues. Today, residents plan to burn stubble fields with fire protection support from firefighters. Day and night operations will continue as crews shore up the north and south flanks of the fire in anticipation of forecasted winds. There are 117 personnel on the fire. Closures are in effect.

* Big Lost Fire is at 1,280 acres and is 0 percent contained. This Type 3 fire is burning east of Potlatch near Highway 6, about 10 miles south of Emida. Tuesday was an active fire day with internal torching and visible smoke. While there were some spot fires due to 10 mph winds, crews held the perimeter. Crews are enforcing dozer lines and mopping up perimeter fires to prep for today's predicted winds. Additional crews are on their way. 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, are starting direct attack and are locating and managing spot fires.

* Not Creative Fire is at 135 acres and is 80 percent contained. This is a Type 2 fire burning 4 miles north of Rose Lake on the south side of Interstate 90. Tuesday was another good day of progress. The entire perimeter now has line and hose around it. Crews worked to remove snags and hazard trees along the perimeter and will continue to work on hotspots and improve fire lines in preparation for forecasted winds. There are 136 personnel on the fire. No structures are threatened and no evacuations are in place.

* The Clark Fork Complex includes Scotchman Peak and Whitetail fires burning east of Lake Pend Oreille on the west side of the Bull River drainage. A Type 2 Incident Management Team will take over the complex on today. There are closures, but no evacuation orders.

No structures are threatened. The Scotchman Peak Fire has grown to 2,143 acres, including multiple spot fires. The fire is north of Highway 200 and four miles northeast of Clark Fork in the Sandpoint Ranger District. It is burning on the east side of Scotchman Peak in the Blue Creek drainage. Fire activity in the headwaters of Blue Creek has moderated. The southwest flank of the fire has reached the southern ridge of the peak. The fire is expected to slowly back down the hill to the southwest. Firefighters are using the confine, contain, point protection strategy. The Whitetail Fire is burning 576 acres south of Highway 200 and 9 miles south of Clark Fork and 8 miles southwest of Heron, Mont., in the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District. The fire is burning on the southeast flank of Whitetail Peak in the "Deer Creek" area. Fire behavior increased on Tuesday, and a heavy helicopter dropped water to cool the northern edge of the fire. Heavy equipment will build and improve holding lines and landings on the ridge above the 332 Road today and engines will patrol for spots north of the 332 Road.

* Marble Creek Fire is 1,024 acres and is 0 percent contained. On Tuesday there was minimum fire spread to the north and east with isolated torching. Firefighters are preparing for the forecasted winds expected today and continue work on the southwest flank by building an anchor point, direct line and a fuel break using excavators, skidders, backhoes and dozers.

* Tower Fire, which is part of the Colville National Forest's Kaniksu Complex, is at 7,743 acres in Washington, and is 1 percent contained. Tuesday the fire was active. Firefighters made progress on the west flank and constructed fire lines. The fire is putting up a lot of smoke. The fire started in Colville NF and is visible from Priest Lake.

* Grizzly Complex is 920 acres in size. This Type 3 fire is burning in the Closed North Fork area and includes the following fires: North Grizzly, roughly 600 acres; Lower Flat, more than 100 acres; and small fires all less than 10 acres - North Suburban, East Suburban, South Suburban, Upper Stoney, Lower Stoney, Downey, and Grizzly Ridge. Fires were active Tuesday; structure protection is occurring in South Suburban.

* Snow Peak Complex, which is also in the Coeur d'Alene River area, is at 126 acres. The Type 3 fire 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.

* Devil's Elbow Campground

* Big Hank Campground

* Kit Price Campground

* Shoshone Rest & Dump Station

* Pritchard Bridge Day Use

* Avery Creek Day Use

* Berlin Flats Campground

* Eagle Creek/Settlers Grove Trailhead

* Big Long Pool Designated Dispersed

* Hawkseye Designated Dispersed

* Independence Designated Dispersed

* Clee Creek Day Use (CXT)

* Avery Creek Cabin

* Little Guard Lookout

* Spyglass Lookout & Ground House

For questions regarding reservations at any of the campgrounds, please visit http://www.recreation.gov/ or call (888) 448-1474. For questions regarding reservations at any of the rental cabins, please contact Barb Hansen at (208) 769-3050.

For a detailed look at the closure area please see the attached map, or visit the Idaho Panhandle National Forest's Wildfire Emergency Closure webpage. Additionally, a fire information call center has been established at (208) 765-7383 and can provide information related to area wildfires and closures