BONNERS FERRY — With the summer turning to July, fire danger in Idaho's two northern counties is currently rated as moderate.

Currently in Bonner and Boundary counties, U.S. Forest Service officials said on the agency's website that there are no fire restrictions at present.

"Fire restrictions are a critical tool used by land management agencies to reduce the risk of unwanted human-caused wildfires, especially during periods of very high or extreme fire danger," officials said.

When fire restrictions are in effect, they apply to all lands within the designated area — regardless of ownership — and must be followed by law.

Currently, fire danger in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, which includes Bonner and Boundary counties, is rated as moderate, which means the number of starts is typically low, except for lightning-caused fires. Under moderate fire danger, U.S. Forest Service officials said fires are not likely to become serious but short-distance spotting may occur.

Fires in open, dried-out grassland will burn briskly and spread rapidly on windy days. Timber fires typically spread slowly to moderately fast.

"Fires are not likely to become serious, and control is relatively easy," U.S. Forest Service officials said on the agency website.

While danger is moderate, area fire officials said they are keeping a close eye on conditions and preparing for the 2026 fire season.

"Selkirk and Northside Fire have invested significant time preparing for the 2026 fire season," said Brandon Vaccaro, public information officer for the Northside and Selkirk districts in Bonner County. "We are monitoring the fire potential outlook and critical data closely."

Vaccaro said the districts' leadership has developed working relationships with federal and state agencies as well as neighboring fire districts. Those relationships allow the agencies' combined resources to integrate smoothly during a large wildfire.

"(Area) firefighters will plan and prepare for wildfire based on the available intelligence reports so we can develop the best possible response," Vaccaro added.

In the West Pend Oreille Fire District, Fire Chief Jamie Painton initiated a burn ban, which went into effect at midnight on Monday, July 6. The burn ban affects all burning in the city limits of Priest River and Oldtown.

However, Painton is allowing an exception for campfires in approved fire rings in both cities.

The burn ban is in effect until further notice.

Area fire agencies and emergency preparedness officials encourage area residents to be prepared. Getting ready can make all the difference, Cameron La Combe, the planning and preparedness coordinator for Bonner County Emergency Management, said recently.

"It's having a way out, of planning ahead or being aware of what to do and where to go ahead of time," La Combe said.

All residents should ask themselves a series of questions. Among them: Do you have a plan for what to do and where to go in the event of an emergency? Do you have a three-day supply of water with enough for each person? Do you have a three-day supply of high-energy, nonperishable food?

Checklists should be created — suggestions can be found on local and state fire websites — with key items to include in "go bags," or on a more practical front, totes that can be filled with all items needed for an emergency and that can be quickly and efficiently loaded into a car.

"Our objective (in emergency management) is just increasing awareness of wildfire home protection, awareness of emergency services and understanding evacuation levels," La Combe said.

Preparedness for possible fire also means preparing the area around your home to minimize the fire danger. While no home is fireproof, La Combe said there are a number of things which can minimize damage, and limiting the branches between the ground and 4 or 5 feet above can limit the amount of fire fuels.

"It's what referred to as ladder fuels," he said. "If you can cut those small branches, if there is any ground fire, it minimizes it going up the tree."

The preparedness coordinator recommended taking it one item, and one step, at a time. If you see totes on sale, grab a couple. If there is a deal on bottled water or batteries, same thing.

Add them to your "go totes" as you have time and funds. Keep a checklist of items you need to include so, over time, you can compile a comprehensive list of emergency items that are ready to go at a moment's notice.

"Having some totes handy just to throw some stuff in, or this time of year, when you go to the grocery store, instead of buying two cans of something, buy four cans," he said.