The Upper Smith Fire on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest continues to grow in the remote terrain of far northern Idaho, burning approximately six miles west of Porthill near the Canadian border. As of September 22, 2026, the fire had consumed 4,848 acres and stood at 41 percent containment.

Location and Terrain

The Upper Smith Fire is burning in rugged, remote country in Boundary County in Idaho's northern panhandle — one of the most topographically challenging fire environments in the Pacific Northwest. The proximity to the Canadian border adds operational complexity, though no cross-border fire spread had been reported. The Idaho Panhandle National Forest is managing the incident with support from the National Interagency Coordination Center in Boise.

Personnel with questions or concerns about the fire can contact the incident management team at 208-557-8813.

Broader Idaho Fire Picture

While the Upper Smith Fire remains the only large fire currently listed in Idaho's NIFC daily report, the broader picture across the Gem State is one of meaningful improvement. As of September 22, wildfire activity across Idaho was described as quiet by fire observers, with incident personnel primarily focused on containment mop-up and post-fire suppression repair in central forests.

The improvement is welcome after one of Idaho's most active fire seasons in recent memory. The Big Grass Fire in Owyhee County attracted statewide attention in late July when Governor Little declared a fire disaster emergency and deployed the Idaho National Guard to assist — a fire that was reported as the largest wildfire in Idaho history at the time it burned.

Resources and Suppression Efforts

Fire managers on the Upper Smith Fire are working to improve containment lines while conditions allow. Cooler temperatures and some moisture in the forecast for the northern Rocky Mountains region are expected to assist crews in the coming days. The fire is currently one of just a handful of active large fires remaining across the entire Northwest Geographic Area as the 2026 season winds toward its conclusion.

The fire's remote location means aerial resources play a significant role in both reconnaissance and direct suppression support, particularly on terrain inaccessible to ground crews and engines.

What to Watch

Residents in Boundary County and those with property or recreation interests in the northern Idaho Panhandle should monitor updates from the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. With 41 percent containment and improving conditions, the fire is trending in the right direction, but mountain terrain can produce localized wind events that complicate containment work, particularly on steep slopes and in drainages where fire can run rapidly uphill.

  • Fire name: Upper Smith Fire
  • Location: Six miles west of Porthill, Idaho
  • Agency: Idaho Panhandle National Forest, USFS
  • Size: 4,848 acres
  • Containment: 41 percent (as of September 22, 2026)
  • Contact: 208-557-8813