FIRE ALERT: Firefighters Attacking Fires In Southwest Idaho

COEUR d'ALENE,
Idaho - Firefighters from the Idaho Panhandle district are battling wildfires in
the Southwest.

Officials with
the U.S. Forest service in North Idaho say around 120 firefighters stationed in
North Idaho have been deployed to fight the massive wildfires in Colorado,
Arizona and New Mexico. The Inland Northwest has yet to be in the midst of its
wildfire season so the firefighters are being sent elsewhere.

Officials with the
U.S. Forest service say right now North Idaho has had "Above Average" rainfall
making the risk of wildfires low during the early summer months.

However Mike
Behrens with the U.S. Forest Service says a drier summer is expected which
could enhance conditions for potential wildfires in North Idaho. As for the 120
or so firefighters working on putting out the wildfires in the Southwest,
Behrens says they will spend most of the summer fighting those fires then be
called back later this summer to be at the ready in case any wildfires break out
in the North Idaho area.

Currently there are at least four states with active
wildfires including, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Montana. Officials with
the Forest Service say for now there is no need to be concerned with potential
wildfires breaking out in North Idaho.