Firefighters in Kootenai County stamped out several ground fires on Tuesday, the first full day of a ban on open burning.

Jim Lyon, spokesman for Northern Lakes Fire District, said people weren't yet aware of the ban announced Monday.

A blaze in a yard along Highway 53 in Rathdrum started when a homeowner was burning a small debris pile.

"Before he could get his hose on it, it was gone," Lyon said.

The fire quickly spread to 3 acres before firefighters were able to knock it down. Hauser Fire, Spirit Lake Fire and the Timberlake Fire District in Athol provided mutual aid.

The blaze came within 20 feet of a house, Lyon said. It moved into the trees, and also threatened a large propane tank and some outbuildings.

"But they got a line on that pretty quick," Lyon said.

He urged residents to call their local fire departments before doing any yard burning.

Northern Lakes firefighters responded earlier Tuesday to a planned field burning behind a church near Atlas Road and Prairie Avenue.

The people doing the burning there had permission from the property owners and the proper equipment, Lyon said.

"What they didn't do was check to see if a burn ban was in effect," he said.

Chief Warren Merritt with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue said his firefighters responded to a small grass fire in Post Falls, near the intersection of Stone Avenue and Howell Avenue.

In that case, a property owner was burning off a field with a torch. Merritt said the blaze was quickly extinguished and did not endanger any structures.

"Fuels are very dry," Merritt said, adding that any wind will cause yard debris fires to grow. "People need to abide by the rules, and right now, the rule is 'no burning.'"