SANDPOINT — With cooler weather and rains helping fire crews get a handle on area wildfires, several trail closures that provided for public and firefighter safety on the Silver Fire have been lifted. 

"These popular recreation trails were reopened as soon as fire managers and agency leadership felt it was safe to do so," Kary Maddox, U.S. Forest Service public information officer, said.

To the east of the Silver Fire, the Roman Nose Lakes (Trail No. 165), Bottleneck Lake (Trail No. 187) and Snow Lake (Trail No. 185) Trails have reopened. On the west side of the fire, the Idaho Department of Lands has reopened the Chimney Rock and Mount Roothaan Trailhead (IDL Road 25) and Hunt Lake, Fault Lake, Gunsight Peak Trailhead (IDL Road 241).

However, Maddox said closures in the Pack River Corridor remain in place for now, as suppression operations wrap up and transition to a Burned Area Emergency Response assessment. Burned areas, especially from recent or current fire, can be extremely hazardous. Residents are asked to continue to avoid the fire area. 

On the Silver Fire, command over firefighting activity was transitioned back to the Sandpoint Ranger District Wednesday.

Located 14 miles west of Bonners Ferry and 23 miles north of Ponderay, the Silver Fire has burned about 2,593 acres and is 30% contained.

Crews continue to improve indirect firelines through mastication, the mulching of forest fuels, as well as road grading and handwork. Secondary control features have been identified that provide additional options should conditions change, IPNF officials said.

"Fire behavior remains minimal as cool, unsettled weather continues, with additional precipitation possible, officials said on InciWeb, an interagency incident information management site. "Recent precipitation has increased surface fuel moisture and moderated fire behavior."

Looking ahead, Idaho Panhandle National Forests officials said a 14-day outlook indicates increasingly favorable conditions that are expected to limit significant fire growth.

They thanked community members and area officials for their cooperation, saying it has helped in fighting the fire located in the Upper Pack River drainage near Silver Dollar Peak.

IPNF officials plan to scale down operations over the next few days as crews are reassigned or return to their home units. The fire will be patrolled by Sandpoint Ranger District personnel after command is returned to the district.

Located 7 miles north-northeast of Clark Fork, the Porcupine Fire has burned 180 acres and is 0% contained. Suppression efforts and natural barriers are helping limit fire growth, Idaho Panhandle National Forest officials said.

The fire is burning in steep, rocky terrain with limited access, which has focused firefighting efforts toward aviation support and the use of natural barriers to keep the fire within the same footprint.

On the Upper Smith, Parker Lake and Border fires in northern Boundary County, minimal fire activity continues on the three fires, which are being managed by the Bonners Ferry Ranger District after command was transitioned back to the local district from the Northern Idaho Blue Team incident management team.

Started by lightning on July 8, the Upper Smith Fire has burned 4,848 acres and is 42% contained. The Parker Lake Fire was sparked by lightning on Aug. 23; it has burned 1,531 acres and is 0% contained. Also sparked by lightning, the Border Fire has burned 37 acres since it started Aug. 25; it is 83% contained.

While the cooler weather has helped dampen fire activity, IPNF said crews continue to monitor the three fires, which have not breached Long Canyon Creek or Parker Ridge. The Parker Lake Fire will continue to be monitored by air, officials said.

With hunters and recreationists heading into the woods, IPNF officials urged common sense and caution.

"Never leave a campfire unattended and make sure it is cold to the touch before walking away," she said.

Information: InciWeb.wildfire.gov, fs.usda.gov/r01/idahopanhandle/alerts