COEUR d'ALENE - An open-burning ban went into effect Monday following a series of runaway grass fires in the past two weeks.

Jim Lyon, spokesman for Northern Lakes Fire, said his agency alone has dealt with nine grass fires in the past two weeks.

He said most of the fires were caused by people trying to burn weeds off their fence lines.

"We are not saying that people are doing anything wrong," Lyon said. "Most people just don't realize how ignitable the fuels are right now."

Lyon said last year's grasses have been freeze-dried over the course of a dry winter and new green growth has yet to sprout. Without that new green growth to temper the weed burning, a small wind gust is all it takes to start a runaway grass fire.

"We have heard that quote from a lot of people," Lyon said. "They say they just went out and started burning weeds like they always do this time of year and the gust comes along and the fire just gets away from them."

Shane O'Shea, assistant fire warden for the Idaho Department of Lands, said while the fire danger is still considered "low," the open burn ban was necessary until the region sees a little more precipitation.

"The slashy fuels are dead and lack moisture," he said. "But the trees are still dormant so they aren't in any danger."

He said the runaway fires are called "escape fires," and that is what is happening in many places where the freeze-dried fuels are more prevalent.

The Athol area has been hit particularly hard this winter because that area is considered a "frost pocket," O'Shea said.

He said the ban, which took effect Monday, will ban the burning of debris and weeds.

"The Rosemont fire (in Athol) was because of someone burning along a fence line," O'Shea said.

That fire alone grew to 50 acres and threatened multiple homes in the area before firefighters were able to contain it.

Lyon said he was glad to hear the burn ban was being implemented.

"This is not typical for this to be going on," he said. "We are about a month early and we are already seeing summer-like conditions."

Over the weekend, Lyon said he spoke to one woman who was weed burning and thought she had the fire completely out, but it crept back to her fence line.

"If they are going to implement this ban now, I can't say that's a bad thing," he added.