Idaho is tied with Washington for the most active large wildfires of any state in the nation as September begins, with 14 large fires burning across the state from the Panhandle in the north to the Boise foothills and the vast central Idaho wilderness. Fuels and fire behavior advisories from NIFC remain in place for Southwest Idaho, where drought conditions and critically dry vegetation continue to pose significant ignition and spread risk.

Idaho Panhandle: Multiple Active Fires

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests are the epicenter of a cluster of active fires in northern Idaho that have generated heavy smoke affecting communities including Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, and Coeur d'Alene. Key incidents include:

  • A fire burning 4,701 acres (42% contained) approximately six miles west of Porthill in the far northern Panhandle, near the Canadian border
  • A fire of 2,424 acres (0% contained) on the southeast side of Silver Dollar Peak near Roman Nose, in remote terrain with limited access
  • A fire of 1,309 acres (0% contained) located in Long Creek Canyon, 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry in the Kootenai River Valley
  • A separate 553-acre fire (14% contained) five miles north of Wallace in the Silver Valley
  • A smaller fire of approximately 180 acres (0% contained) roughly seven miles northeast of Clark Fork

The concentration of fires in Boundary and Bonner counties has stretched local and federal resources and led to area and trail closures across significant portions of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

Cascade Fire: Nez Perce-Clearwater

The Cascade Fire on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is burning approximately 6,800 acres with 50% containment. The fire is located 19 miles east of Lowell in the rugged terrain of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness region. The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests reported that fire activity on the complex saw minimal increase over the last weekend due to lingering warm and dry weather conditions, though cooler overnight temperatures have aided mop-up efforts on contained sections.

Boise National Forest: Crooked Fire

The Crooked Fire on the Boise National Forest has grown to 8,433 acres with just 21% containment as of September 1. The fire is located 14 miles northeast of Idaho City along the north fork of the Boise River — a popular recreation corridor — and has prompted road and trail closures in the affected area. Firefighters are working to establish indirect containment lines in advance of expected weekend weather, while aerial resources assist with hotspot suppression in areas too steep for ground crews.

Doublesprings Fire: Salmon-Challis

The Doublesprings Fire on the Salmon-Challis National Forest is among the fires burning in central Idaho's vast wilderness. The Salmon-Challis NF is posting fire updates through social media and its WildWeb system, as the forest's initial attack fires are not always posted to InciWeb. Residents and visitors near the Salmon River corridor are advised to check official forest social media channels for the latest information.

Flint Fire: BLM Boise District

The Flint Fire, managed by the BLM's Boise District, is burning in the sagebrush and grassland fuels of southwestern Idaho. Rangeland fires in this terrain can move extremely fast, and BLM crews have been focused on protecting private land and grazing allotments in the path of the fire.

Smoke and Air Quality Across Idaho

The cumulative smoke from Idaho's 14 large fires has created persistent air quality issues across the state. Idaho Smoke Information (idsmoke.blogspot.com) has been tracking smoke model outputs and providing daily forecasts for smoke-sensitive residents. The Boise and Twin Falls metro areas have experienced multiple air quality alert days this summer.

Residents across Idaho are encouraged to sign up for IdahoAlert emergency notifications through their county emergency management office, and to monitor InciWeb's Idaho state page for current incident information.