Idaho's 10 large uncontained fires span a wide geographic swath of the state, from the Boise foothills north to the Canadian border. While the massive Tartar Fire near Weiser is approaching full containment — a major milestone for crews and affected agricultural communities — several newer and smaller fires are demanding resources and threatening rural infrastructure.

Tartar Fire: Near Containment After Three Weeks

The Tartar Fire, which ignited July 24 from a lightning strike approximately 21 miles northwest of Weiser, has burned 158,027 acres and reached 89% containment as of August 10 — the largest single fire in Idaho this season and one of the largest in the state's recent history.

The fire burned through a mix of grass, brush, and timber in the rolling agricultural country of Washington County and the Oregon Slope, scorching rangeland and affecting cattle operations in the area. Local farmer Gabe Flick, whose Flick Farms operation sits four to five miles from the fire perimeter, noted that neighbors lost range ground and cattle, while his own operation contended with the effects of persistent smoke on crops. He expects to harvest beans two to three weeks early as a result of the smoke and heat stress.

As crews work toward full containment, resources are being released from the Tartar Fire and redirected to higher-priority incidents elsewhere in the Northwest.

Other Active Idaho Incidents

Multiple other fires are burning across Idaho with varying levels of containment:

  • Highway 20 Mile Marker 115 Fire — 12 miles northeast of Mountain Home, 4,936 acres, 20% contained. Burning in rangeland terrain with active fire behavior.
  • Upper Smith Fire — 6 miles west of Porthill near the Canadian border, 3,417 acres, 32% contained. Remote northern Idaho terrain.
  • Big Rock Fire — 20 miles east of Idaho Falls, 2,142 acres, 85% contained. Crews making strong progress.
  • Cascade Fire — 22 miles east of Lowell in the Clearwater drainage, 2,000 acres, 50% contained.
  • Doublesprings Fire — 31 miles northwest of Mackay, 1,603 acres, 5% contained. Very limited containment with potential for growth.
  • Moose Mountain Fire — 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Campground, 1,074 acres, zero containment. Extremely remote terrain.
  • Lake Fire — 4 miles southwest of Secesh, 169 acres, zero containment. Still in initial attack phase.

Southwest Idaho Fuel Advisory in Effect

The National Interagency Fire Center issued a fuel and fire behavior advisory on August 6 specifically for southwest Idaho, citing persistent drought, critically low live and dead fuel moistures, and a fully cured fine-fuel crop that is larger than average. The advisory warns of above-normal potential for large fires in the region and notes that drought-stressed vegetation and continuous cured fine fuels are contributing to increased fire occurrence and extreme fire behavior when ignitions do occur.

Idaho residents in fire-prone areas are urged to maintain defensible space, avoid outdoor burning, and stay connected to local emergency alerts through county sheriff's offices and the Idaho Office of Emergency Management.