Several dozen residents in the Squaw Valley area near Priest Lake were evacuated Saturday after winds fanned the Tower Fire, pushing the 18,478-acre fire toward their homes.

"Significant winds hit the area and the fire took off on the Washington side headed into Idaho," Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said.

After looking at conditions, crews on both sides of the border issued a Stage 3 evacuation notice for residents who lived within a mile of Squaw Valley Road. The notice advises residents to immediately leave and head somewhere safe; in this case, an evacuation center was set up at Priest Lake Lamanna High School.

Wheeler said about 20 homes were evacuated after the order was issued at 1 p.m.

A Stage 2, or voluntary, evacuation notice was issued to residents who live in the north Highway 57 area, which includes the Nordman community. The remainder of the Priest Lake area remained under a Stage 1 evacuation alert, which advises residents to have important papers, medications and personal belongings gathered together and be ready to pack on a short notice if conditions worsen.

In the Clark Fork area, winds also had the Clark Fork Complex fires poised to make a strong run but three hotshot crews on the Montana side of the border were able to get a handle on the fire and keep it from spreading, Wheeler said.

A Stage 1 evacuation notice remains in effect south of the Clark Fork River.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests issued the following updates Saturday on fires burning in the area:

* The Tower Fire, along with six smaller fires, is part of the Kaniksu Complex, which has burned a total of 19,863 acres. Fires include the Baldy Fire, 16 miles north of Ione, 515 acres; Onata Fire, 8 miles east/southwest of Ione, 502 acres; Hall Mountain, 46 acres; Grease Creek Fire, south of Hall Mountain, 196 acres; Slate Creek, one acre, and South Fork Slate Creek, 125 acres, both near the northwest boundary of the Salmo-Priest Wilderness.

* The Clark Fork Complex Fire, a collection of six fires, has burned roughly 14,845 acres. Fires include the Scotchman Peak Fire, 2,057 acres; Sawtooth Fire, 2,158 acres; Napoleon Fire, 8,499 acres; Whitetail Fire, 1,734 acres; Marten Creek Fire, 6 acres; and Government Fire, 391 acres.

* The Parker Ridge Fire, located seven miles southwest of Porthill and north of Bonners Ferry, has 82 personnel assigned to the fire, which has burned 6,252 acres since it was caused by lightning on July 29. The fire is 27 percent contained.