Idaho Fires Update: Seven Large Incidents Active as Panhandle Blazes Challenge Crews in Remote Terrain

Idaho is managing seven active large fires as of September 15, with the most significant challenges concentrated in the rugged mountains of the Idaho Panhandle and the remote wilderness of the Selway corridor. While several fires are approaching full containment, three Panhandle National Forest fires remain at low containment percentages due to steep terrain, limited access, and complex fire behavior in dense conifer fuels.

Idaho Panhandle Fires: Three Active Incidents

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests are managing three concurrent large fires that present significant operational challenges:

Upper Smith Fire — Burning six miles west of Porthill in the far north of Idaho's Panhandle near the Canadian border, the Upper Smith Fire has grown to 4,848 acres with 41 percent containment. The fire is burning in steep terrain along the west side of Silver Dollar Peak near Roman Nose Mountain. The Idaho Panhandle National Forests fire information line is 208-557-8813.

Silver Fire — Adjacent to the Upper Smith in the Selkirk Mountains, the Silver Fire has burned 2,593 acres with just 30 percent containment. Remote location, limited road access, and dense standing timber have complicated direct suppression efforts.

Parker Lake Fire — The most recently active of the Panhandle fires, the Parker Lake Fire is burning 1,531 acres in Long Creek Canyon approximately 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry in the Kootenai River Valley. The fire has 0 percent containment and is being monitored closely by USFS managers. Information: 208-557-8813.

Central Idaho: Progress on Larger Fires

Further south, central Idaho fires are showing better containment progress. The Crooked Fire on the Boise National Forest — located 14 miles northeast of Idaho City along the North Fork of the Boise River — has reached 93 percent containment at 10,081 acres. Fire information is available at 208-264-4469.

The Moose Mountain Fire in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, burning 27 miles northeast of Pierce, is 70 percent contained at 5,832 acres. Mop-up operations are underway with crews working to cool interior hotspots before autumn rains arrive.

The Doublesprings Fire on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, 31 miles northwest of Mackay, has reached 60 percent containment at 1,779 acres.

Selway Wilderness: Remote Fire Monitoring

The Selway Wilderness Fires in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests have grown to 7,475 acres in some of the most remote terrain in the lower 48 states. The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, which straddles the Idaho-Montana border, presents extraordinary logistical challenges for any ground-based suppression. Fire managers are monitoring the fires and considering a managed wildfire approach where conditions allow, given the wilderness designation and the ecological role fire plays in the region's mosaic landscape.

The Cascade Fire, also on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, has burned 7,475 acres with 50 percent containment and is located 19 miles east of Lowell. Information: 208-935-6134.

Smoke and Air Quality Impacts

The combined smoke output from Idaho's seven large fires has contributed significantly to degraded air quality across the state and into neighboring states downwind. At various points this season, Idaho DEQ has issued air quality advisories covering 35 of the state's 44 counties. Residents in the Panhandle — particularly in Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai counties — should monitor AirNow.gov daily as the Panhandle fires remain active.

Residents are encouraged to limit outdoor activity on days when AQI is in the Unhealthy range or above, and to use N95 or KN95 respirators if outdoor activity is necessary. Sensitive groups including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions should take extra precautions.

Road and Recreation Closures