The Upper Smith Fire continues to burn in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, approximately six miles west of Porthill in Boundary County near the Canadian border, according to the latest National Interagency Fire Center situation report. As of September 21, the fire has consumed 4,848 acres and stands at 41 percent containment — making it Idaho's lone active large fire currently listed on the national report.

Fire Details

The Upper Smith Fire is being managed by the U.S. Forest Service's Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Incident contact personnel can be reached at (208) 557-8813. The fire's remote location near the Kootenai River drainage and the British Columbia border has complicated suppression access, requiring crews to navigate steep terrain and limited road infrastructure.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forest spans portions of Boundary, Bonner, Shoshone, Kootenai, and Benewah Counties in northern Idaho. Porthill, near the Canadian port of entry on Highway 1, sits at the northern tip of Boundary County — a heavily forested area with significant logging and recreation history.

Fire Behavior and Weather Concerns

With just 41 percent containment, the Upper Smith Fire remains an active management challenge. The northern Idaho region has seen below-average precipitation in recent weeks, and the fuel moistures in the cedar-hemlock and mixed conifer forests of the Panhandle remain low enough to support continued fire spread under favorable wind and humidity conditions.

The NIFC weather forecast for Monday does not specifically call out critical fire weather for northern Idaho, but forecasters note that conditions across the interior West remain unseasonably dry in spots, and fire managers are maintaining close watch on weather windows through the remainder of September.

Idaho's 2026 Fire Season

Idaho had a notably active 2026 fire season, particularly in the southwest. Governor Brad Little declared a state fire disaster emergency in late July, deploying the Idaho National Guard to the Big Grass Fire in Owyhee County — a blaze that grew to historic proportions before being brought under control. By mid-September, Idaho's cumulative fire activity had contributed substantially to the Pacific Northwest's overall season totals.

The state's fire season typically extends into mid-to-late October in the northern Panhandle region, where September weather systems can bring rain and snow at higher elevations but also unpredictable wind events that can drive fire runs on ridgelines.

What Residents Should Know

  • The Upper Smith Fire is approximately 6 miles west of Porthill. Residents in the Boundary County area should monitor local emergency alerts.
  • Air quality impacts are possible downwind of the fire depending on wind direction; check AirNow.gov for current conditions in Boundary and Bonner Counties.
  • Road closures and trail restrictions may be in effect in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest near the fire area. Contact the Bonners Ferry Ranger District for current access information.
  • Incident information is available through InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov.

Residents in northern Idaho and adjacent areas of Washington and Montana are encouraged to follow guidance from local emergency management and sign up for Boundary County emergency alerts through their county alert system.