Fire crews battle area fires

Almost 2,800 acres in the region have been burned in a handful of wildfires, with the largest being the Ridge Creek Fire, roughly 3 1/2 miles east of the northern tip of Hayden Lake. Fire danger in the region is rated as very high to extreme, prompting the implementation of Stage 2 fire restrictions in the state. Under these restrictions, open burning is prohibited, including campfires, stove fires and recreational fires.