WILDFIRES -- Clearwater-Nez Perce National Forest officials closed more than 3.5 million acres to public access this afternoon as numerous fires totaling 80,000 acres on Friday spread significantly today in windy conditions.

Wind gusts in Lewiston registered up to 72 mph today.

The exception to the closure is the Palouse District, which has its office at Potlatch, Idaho.

In the Blue Mountains, a new fire blew up in the Tucannon River area near Dayton.

Here's the release just posted from forest officials based in Orofino:

Many of the widespread wildfires on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests made significant runs today, pushed by gusty winds and low relative humidities.

“The weather conditions that materialized today were even worse than predicted,” said Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest Supervisor Cheryl Probert.  “I am extremely concerned about the safety of the people, communities and firefighters that may be in the paths of these rapidly-spreading fires.”

As a precautionary measure during extensive and severe fire activity, the Forests have issued an area closure prohibiting “human entry” into lands managed by the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, with the exception of the Palouse Ranger District.

“I understand this will be inconvenient for some people, but our priority is public safety.  We will evaluate the situation on a day-by-day basis, but it will take a significant change in weather to improve our fire situation.”

Forest Supervisor Probert requests that all visitors re-locate to lands outside the Forests away from fire activity, and that all prospective visitors find alternate locations away from the closure area.
 
National forest system roads can be used to exit the Forest.  For state and county road information, contact the local sheriff’s office and Idaho Department of Transportation.

Fire managers are in the process of evaluating the spread of area fires and will provide revised acreage updates tomorrow.

See updates on the forests'  Fire Information website.

The Palouse District encompasses 500,000 gross acres of which there are about 145,000 net acres of National Forest System lands.

Potlatch timber company, which also has land in the region, closed its forests to public access in July because of extreme fire danger.