With the threat of wildfire danger increasing rapidly in North Idaho, local land management agencies announced they will implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on all lands within the Coeur d’Alene Dispatch area beginning today at 11:59 p.m. Fire restrictions are intended to decrease the chance of any preventable fires in the designated areas.

The Stage 1 restrictions will be in effect, until further notice, in the Coeur d’Alene Fire Restriction Area, which includes all state, federal, and private forestland and rangeland in Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone, and Latah counties. This also includes public lands in Washington and Montana administered by the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. These restrictions are being implemented by agencies managing or providing wildland fire protection in the area, including the Bureau of Land Management, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Lands, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Under the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on state and federally managed or protected lands, roads, and trails:

- Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site in a permanent concrete or metal fire ring, or on their own land, and only within an owner-provided structure.

- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

The following are exemptions to the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:

- Firewood cutting restrictions are not in place at this time. Firewood cutters are reminded to comply with the fire precaution terms and conditions of their permit.

- Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.

- Persons using fire fueled solely by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels. Such devices, including propane campfires, may be used only in an area cleared of flammable material.

- Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.

- Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

- All land within a city boundary is exempted.

- Other exemptions unique to each agency.

With the extreme temperatures the region is experiencing, fire managers are asking the public to be extra cautious when spending time in the outdoors. As a reminder, fireworks are prohibited on state and private forestland and rangeland, and on public lands, roads, and trails in Idaho during closed fire season (May 10 through Oct. 20). Possession and/or use of fireworks is always prohibited on federal public lands.

Visit http://www.idahofireinfo.com/p/fire-restrictions.html for a detailed map and current information regarding fire restrictions or contact the local land management office.