Idaho Fire Roundup: 12 Large Fires Burning from Panhandle to Boise Foothills

Idaho is managing 12 large active wildfires as of September 4, 2026, spread across a wide swath of the state — from the remote forested ridges of the Idaho Panhandle in the north to the Boise National Forest south of the Salmon River Mountains. The fires represent some of the most complex and resource-intensive incidents in the Pacific Northwest this season.

Nez Perce–Clearwater Complex

The Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forests east of Lowell are hosting a cluster of active fires that have kept fire managers stretched thin across the Lochsa River drainage and adjacent wilderness corridors:

Cascade Fire — Approximately 19 miles east of Lowell, this 6,800-acre fire is now 50% contained. Crews are working to strengthen containment lines on this remote but significant incident.
Grotto Fire — Also burning approximately 20 miles east of Lowell, the Grotto Fire at 3,849 acres remains at 0% containment. Remote terrain and limited access have slowed suppression efforts.
Moose Mountain Fire — Located approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Campground on the Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forest, this 5,579-acre fire has made only 8% containment progress. Fire managers have assigned the incident to an Incident Management Team.
Three Links Fire — Burning approximately 20 miles east of Lowell, this 790-acre fire remains at 0% containment and is being monitored within the same geographic cluster as the Cascade and Grotto fires.

Boise National Forest: Crooked Fire

The Crooked Fire on the Boise National Forest — located 14 miles northeast of Idaho City along the North Fork of the Boise River — has grown to approximately 9,956 acres with 27% containment as of the most recent NIFC report, though some earlier reports had it at 8,433 acres and 12% contained. New trail closures were implemented this week to protect public safety and firefighter access, with work ongoing to reduce fuels along Forest Roads 384 and 327 to improve containment line construction.

The fire's proximity to the Boise River corridor and recreational areas east of Boise City has drawn significant public attention throughout the week.

Idaho Panhandle: Multiple Active Fires

The Idaho Panhandle National Forest is managing four active large fires simultaneously:

Dudley Fire — Five miles north of Wallace in Shoshone County, this 800-acre fire is 88% contained, with mop-up operations underway.
Upper Smith Fire — Six miles west of Porthill in Boundary County near the Canadian border, the Upper Smith Fire has burned 4,808 acres and is 42% contained.
Parker Lake Fire — In Long Creek Canyon, approximately 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry in the Kootenai River Valley, this 1,429-acre fire is at 0% containment.
Silver Fire — Located on the southeast side of Silver Dollar Peak near Roman Nose in the Panhandle, the Silver Fire has burned 2,545 acres with 0% containment.
Porcupine Fire — Burning approximately 7 miles northeast of Clark Fork, this 180-acre fire is at 0% containment.

Salmon–Challis National Forest

The Doublesprings Fire, burning 31 miles northwest of Mackay on the Salmon–Challis National Forest, has consumed 1,779 acres and is 35% contained. The fire is burning in remote high-desert terrain in Custer County.

Situation Overview

The breadth of fires across Idaho reflects the severity of the 2026 fire season, which has been driven by persistent drought and above-normal temperatures throughout the summer. Southwest Idaho fire risk and fuel loads remain elevated, with fire managers from the Capital Press reporting that conditions in that part of the state are among the most dangerous seen in recent years.