SANDPOINT — Multiple wildfires sprang up across the Idaho Panhandle National Forests following last week’s lightning storm, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The majority of the starts have been quickly contained, although there are several forest fires that are being actively managed. They include

- The Cougar Fire in the Sandpoint Ranger District was estimated to be at 100 acres on Tuesday. It’s located south of Jost Creek and north of Porcupine Lake east of Hope. It’s burning in steep, rugged terrain and Smokejumpers were deployed on Monday. However, they disengaged because of safety concerns with falling trees and steep terrain. Fire managers are using man-made and natural features to confine and contain the fire.

- The Tarlac Fire was at 2 acres and is burning in the Priest Lake Experimental Forest and a Research Natural Area. The Forest Service’s RNAs network protects some of the finest examples of natural ecosystems for the purposes of scientific study and education and for maintenance of biological diversity. Firefighters have a line around the perimeter of the fire, which is burning in the Priest Lake Ranger District.

- The Surprise Creek Fire is a 3-acre conflagration in the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District. This fire is located south of Faset Peak, on a ridge between Surprise and Ermine creeks in the Independence drainage. Although this fire is low intensity with creeping/smoldering, smoke may be highly visible from U.S. Highway 95 around Athol and other communities such as Lakeview, Bayview, and Hope.

- The Smith Creek Fire was estimated at 300 acres. It was reported on July 28 and is burning in the Bonners Ferry Ranger District at the head of Smith Creek, north of Lions Head Ridge. The fire was caused by lightning and is burning in subalpine fir and shrubs. Fire managers are developing opportunities to safely engage. There are no road, trail or area closures in effect as this time.

- The 10-acre Slide Creek Fire in the Bonners Ferry Ranger District is located in the Myrtle Creek municipal watershed, the fire is burning in heavy logging slash on private timber ground. Multiple ground and aerial resources are on scene.

Fire managers seek to employ the most effective tactics as they look for opportunities to engage each of these fires safely. With new fires being detected daily, and with continued hot, dry weather forecasted, public and firefighter safety is the top priority. Cooler temperatures are forecasted the next several days. Breezy winds and very dry conditions will raise fire weather concerns and the potential for rapid fire spread with any existing or new fires.

At this time there are no fire restrictions in place, however with dangerously hot temperatures and high fire danger, visitors are reminded to be careful while recreating in the forest. For fire information on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, please contact 208-557-8813.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.