Two lightning-caused wildfires in Idaho's northern panhandle continue to burn into mid-October, with crews making progress but the rugged, heavily timbered terrain of Boundary County keeping full containment out of reach for now.

Upper Smith Fire: 4,848 Acres, 42% Contained

The Upper Smith Fire is burning within the Smith Creek drainage approximately 6 miles west of Porthill, Idaho and about 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry. The fire, ignited by lightning on July 7, 2026, has grown to 4,848 acres and is 42% contained as of the most recent InciWeb report.

The fire is located on Idaho Panhandle National Forests lands in Boundary County. A fire closure order was put in place on July 13, 2026 and remains in effect through December 31, 2026, closing Forest Road 281 and Trail 16 within the fire area. The remote nature of the terrain, which consists of dense federal timberland and steep creek drainages, has required crews to rely heavily on aerial resources and indirect fire line construction.

The Upper Smith Fire has been a persistent presence on the 2026 fire season calendar, burning slowly but steadily through heavy fuels that built up during decades of fire suppression. Fire managers have been using a combination of direct and indirect tactics to work toward containment before fall weather fully arrives.

Silver Fire: 2,593 Acres in Northern Boundary County

The Silver Fire, burning near Sandpoint in Boundary County, has reached 2,593 acres. The fire, which started on August 23, 2026, has been active for nearly two months. Like the Upper Smith Fire, the Silver Fire burns through federal timberlands in northern Idaho's heavily forested panhandle region.

The Parker Lake Fire (1,531 acres) is also tracked on InciWeb in the same region of northern Idaho, providing crews with multiple fronts to manage in an area with limited road access and significant wildland-urban interface concerns near communities in Bonner and Boundary counties.

Idaho Fire Season Context

Idaho was among the harder-hit states in the 2026 fire season, with fire activity spread across the panhandle, central mountains, and southwestern rangelands. The Idaho Department of Lands and U.S. Forest Service both had significant resources committed throughout the summer and into fall.

  • Upper Smith Fire: 4,848 acres | ~42% contained | Lightning, July 7, 2026 | Boundary County
  • Silver Fire: 2,593 acres | Lightning, August 23, 2026 | Boundary County
  • Parker Lake Fire: 1,531 acres | Boundary County

Residents near Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint, and other northern Idaho communities are encouraged to monitor InciWeb and the Idaho Department of Lands fire information page for the latest on these fires. With moisture expected to increase in the coming weeks, fire managers anticipate the opportunity to make significant gains on containment before the season's end.