Fire Prevention Tips from Smokey Bear...

It’s important for the safety of your home and nearby wildlands to learn how to use and maintain outdoor equipment and vehicles in ways that prevent sparking a wildfire. Remember to always keep a cell phone nearby and call 911 immediately in case of fire.

Vehicle Safety

• Be sure chains and other metal parts aren't dragging from your vehicle-they throw sparks.
• Check your tire pressure. Driving on an exposed wheel rim can cause sparks.
• Be careful driving through or parking on dry grass or brush. Hot exhaust pipes can start the grass on fire. You may not even notice the fire until it’s too late.
• Never let your brake pads wear too thin; metal on metal makes sparks.

Lawn Care

• Sparks from lawnmowers and power equipment DO start wildfires. Be careful on hot, dry days, and be sure to get your equipment checked regularly.
• Mow before 10 a.m., but never when it’s windy or excessively dry. Remember that lawn mowers are designed to mow lawns, not weeds or dry grass. Metal lawnmower blades striking rocks can create sparks and start fires.
• In wildland areas, spark arresters are required on all portable, gasoline-powered equipment. A spark arrester is a mechanical device that traps or destroys hot exhaust particles that have been released from an internal combustion engine. They’re commonly required on tractors, harvesters, chainsaws, weed eaters and lawnmowers.
• There are two types of spark arresters: multiposition small engine (MSE) and general purpose (GP). MSEs are for handheld equipment such as chainsaws and leaf blowers. GPs are for engines that remain in a single position, such as tractors and motorcycles. While spark arresters are not 100 percent effective, they greatly reduce the risk of starting a wildfire.
• Keep the exhaust system, spark arresters and engine in proper working order and free of carbon buildup. Use the recommended grade of fuel and don’t fill to the point of overflowing.
• When doing any yardwork or work outdoors with mechanical equipment, keep a shovel and a fire extinguisher handy.
• In wildland areas, grinding and welding operations require a permit and 10 feet of clearance.

State Protected Lands in Northern Idaho Move to “High” Fire Danger

As a result of the continued and forecasted hot and dry weather in the northern part of Idaho, effective Tuesday, July 17^th, all Idaho Department of Lands Forest Protective Districts north of the Salmon River will have moved their fire danger to “High”.  To date this fire season, there have been 76 fires on state protected lands, and 60 of those have been human-caused.  The majority of these have been the result of escaped debris burns or abandoned campfires. 

This notice does not impact or prohibit recreational campfires, but please remember that you should never leave a campfire unattended and, when you do leave, please drown, stir, and repeat until the campfire is dead out and cold to the touch.  If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.

Each of these districts has authority to alter permitted burning and you should contact your local fire district if you plan to burn, or if you have questions regarding burning.  Outdoor burning should be restricted to early morning and late evening hours.  To report a wildfire, call 911.  Your attention and diligence is needed to ensure that all Idahoans, and visitors to our great state, can enjoy the Idaho outdoors.

Mica Forest Protective District Takes Step to Reduce Human-Caused Fires

                          

KOOTENAI COUNTY FIRE PREVENTION CO-OP

125 West Hayden Avenue · Hayden, Idaho  83835

www.nifca.net/

                                                                                Craig Etherton - President          208-659-8986    cetherton@cdaid.org

Larry Simms -   Vice-President  208-686-7004    chief@hauserfire.org

                                                            Lisa Merritt -     Secretary          208-772-5711     tdrechsel@northernlakesfire.com

                                                            Dean Marcus - Treasurer           208- 772-5711     jlyon@northernlakesfire.com           

  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Kootenai County Fire Chiefs and Idaho Department of Lands Mica District have decided to cease the issuance of all burn permits in the Mica Fire Protection District, as of July 5, 2018.

If you currently have a permit to burn yard waste it is good until its expiration date, no more than 10 days from today. You must have a copy of your permit on hand if fire department personnel ask for it. Please check with your local fire department with questions.

“We have experienced a number of escaped fires within the last two weeks that were the result of people burning debris. In some of these cases the persons involved had burn permits, but were burning material that was not included with their permit. In other cases, the persons involved did not have a permit.

In all of these incidents the fire behavior exhibited was more extreme than would be expected based on the appearance of the fuels and the time of year. This in turn resulted in a major commitment of time and resources in order to contain the fires.” Stated IDL Mica District Fire Warden Pat Latham

The state wide burn permit program will not allow you to obtain a burn permit after 12:30 p.m. today, July 5^th.

IDL and the Kootenai County Chiefs will continue to evaluate the conditions in our area, more restrictions may be placed in the near future.

CALL 911 if your fire spreads beyond your control IMMEDIATELY.

Thank you and Stay Safe

Craig Etherton

Craig Etherton - President       

Fire Danger Increasing in Northern Idaho

FIRE DANGER UPGRADED TO MODERATE

June 25, 2018 at 9:50 am | By the Shoshone County Fire Chiefs Association

OSBURN - The Shoshone County Fire Chiefs Association, which includes members from all local fire departments and wildland fire agencies, have determined that it is time to move the fire danger to Moderate for the local area (effective June 25, 2018).

Small permitted burn types, including residential yard waste are still allowed, but as conditions continue to change rapidly, the Association asks residents to please be extra vigilant and always monitor your small pile until it is dead out.

With Independence Day quickly approaching, the public needs to be careful with their camp fires and fireworks.

To ensure a safe holiday, please follow these rules:

•Ensure all campfires are kept to a reasonable size and extinguished completely if not attended. Smoldering campfires left unattended are still potentially dangerous. If you decide to have a campfire, it is required that you have a shovel and bucket on hand as they will help to put fire out.

•Fireworks, of any type, are NOT allowed on any forested land (private, industrial, state or federal) in Idaho during closed fire season- May 10 through October 20, as per Idaho Code, 38-117.

•Fireworks that shoot into the air are ILLEGAL everywhere and are especially dangerous. Use only “non-aerial common fireworks.” As defined by Idaho Code 39-2602: Non-aerial common fireworks are any fireworks (such as ground spinners, fountains, sparklers, smoke devices or snakes) that are designed to remain on or near the ground and do not travel outside a 15 foot diameter circle, or emit sparks or other burning material which land outside a 20 foot diameter circle or above a height of twenty 20 feet. Non-aerial common fireworks do not include firecrackers, jumping jacks, or similar products.

•If you choose to use fireworks, make sure you use them in a safe area. Children should not be allowed to handle any fireworks without the supervision of an adult. Parents, guardians or other persons having custody or control of a minor will be liable for damage caused by the use of fireworks by the minor.

•Please be kind to your neighbors and remember fireworks can be stressful to our pets and animals.

Unfortunately, our recreational area has a huge problem with people leaving garbage in their campsites and along roadways. Please, take the time before you leave to dispose of all the garbage found in your recreational site.

Be careful and have a safe holiday.

For additional information or questions about permits, please contact your local fire district:

Shoshone County FD#1: 208-752-1101

Shoshone County FD#2: 208-784-1188

US Forest Service: 208-783-2100

Idaho Department of Lands- Cataldo: 208-682-4611

Shoot Responsibly - Idaho, This week's Mitigation Minute!

This week's #MitigationMinute urges the public to "Shoot Responsibly - Idaho" when target-shooting on public lands. Think before you shoot and follow these helpful tips. #WFAM #OneLessSparkOneLessWildfire #BLMBODFire

Campfire Safety

Building, Maintaining, and Extinguishing Your Campfire

Annually, about half of all wildfires in Idaho are started by humans, and campfires are one of the leading causes.  As we move through the fire season please continue to be careful with fire while enjoying all that the Idaho outdoors has to offer.  Don't leave your fire until it is dead out.  Remember, if it's too hot to touch it's too hot to leave.