The Spokane fires are the latest reminder of why emergency preparedness matters.

So what can people in Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County do to prepare if a similar disaster strikes? Officials say one of the most important steps is signing up for emergency notification systems, which sends alerts by text message or phone call.

“Our community, they need to be prepared,” said Chris Larson, deputy fire marshal with Northern Lakes Fire District. “Those are things that are so critical and important to sign up for, so they can be alerted if they have to do evacuations.”

Larson also urges residents to follow the "Ready, Set, Go!" evacuation framework. "Ready" means assembling a go bag with essential items. "Set" means staying aware of changing conditions and preparing for a possible evacuation order. If conditions reach "Go," residents should leave immediately, taking the items they have already prepared.

“Always have two ways out of where you're at,” Larson said. “Have items in a go bag that's ready to go with some essentials in it. Have your documents, prescription medications, have those ready to go with you because you have to leave in a moment's notice.”

Kootenai County Office of Emergency Management Director Tiffany Westbrook said preparation should also include a family communication plan.

“Preparedness is a shared responsibility, and it’s important to have a go bag and a family communication plan,” Westbrook said.

Officials also stress the importance of reporting potential fires quickly. Even if you're not sure what you're seeing is a fire, Larson said it's better to call 911 than risk a delayed response. Fires can double in size every 30 seconds, making early detection critical.

“I'd rather our crews respond and there's no fire,” Larson said. “We had a fire the other day that somebody driving by saw when it was very small, and we were able to keep it down to less than an eighth of an acre. It was a small fire, but the potential would have been huge.”

Meanwhile, local agencies continue working to reduce fire risk and improve readiness.

“We are consistently working with all of the local fire agencies, with our Office of Emergency Management, with the Department of Lands and the Forest Service, just to make sure we’re prepared,” said Coeur d’Alene Fire Marshal Craig Etherton. 

He said the prescribed burning that happened over the winter and the mitigation projects that were done around the city decrease the amount of fuel on the mountainside. 

"It helps keep flame lengths lower and slows the progression of a fire so crews can get ahead of it," Etherton said.

The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures in the 80s this week in Coeur d'Alene. There is a chance of rain Wednesday and Thursday.

“Seeing everything in Spokane might hit close to home,” Westbrook said. “But at the end of the day, it's not about promising it won't happen. It's about doing everything we can to reduce risk, respond efficiently and effectively, and prepare for tomorrow.”