Some areas of Idaho Panhandle forest closed because of fire

Several small fires continue to burn on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

Cooler and wetter weather over the Labor Day weekend is expected to limit fire growth, but people recreating on the national forest should stay out of those areas, Forest Service officials said.

The 70-acre Gleason Fire is near Priest Lake, south of Gleason Mountain and west of the Priest Lake Ranger Station. No buildings or other infrastructure is threatened by the fire.

The 930-acre Attention Fire and the 1,030-acre Granite Fires are on the St. Joe Ranger District between the west bank of the St. Joe River and Forest Service Road 201. The area between the river and road is closed from south of Conrad Peak and Forest Service Road 322 to Timber Creek.

“With hunting season approaching, we intend to reduce the size of the area closure as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Shane Jeffries, acting forest supervisor.