Wildfire Update
As of Thursday, July 21, there had been 53 fires totaling 54 acres reported across the 6.3 million acres IDL protects. 38 of these unwanted fires were human caused and burned 81% of the reported acreage. Overall, the number of fires reported to date is 53% of the 20 year average. The total acreage burned is less than 1% of the 20 year average.
The total estimated suppression costs on land protected by IDL is $6 million. Of this amount, $1.7 million is reimbursable, leaving IDL responsible for approximately $4.3 million. This amount reflects up front costs like aircraft contracting.
IDL has two amphibious water scoopers, two type 2 helicopters, and four single engine air tankers on contract. The pre-positioning of these resources is detailed in the attached report.
For 11 of IDL's twelve fire protective districts, the fire danger rating is moderate and for the remaining district the rating is high. With closed burning season in effect, debris burning is being limited in many districts.
More than 200 IDL and TPA Employees Deployed on Fires Across the West
When the fire season starts out slowly, there is opportunity to provide our firefighting staff with training opportunities and experience in the field while assisting our western neighbors.
IDL and the TPAs have sent approximately 221 people off-district to help New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Alaska, California, Washington, Arizona, Montana and Wyoming. Firefighters have also been sent to help the Forest Service and Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho. 46 people are currently deployed on assignment. What is not included in the numbers are the off-district assignments for helitak and red carded firefighters from local fire departments.
Idaho Department of Lands pays the wages and expenses for staff, helitak and local firefighters while on off-district assignments. Those wages and expenses are later reimbursed by the jurisdictions and federal government agency responsible for the wildfire protection. Currently through a paper process, IDL sends a bill to the responsible agency for reimbursement.
The fire bureau is looking forward to the Gold's Fire Business System approved during the 2022 legislative session. This system is being universally adopted across the west and meets IDL's and our partners highly specific fire-billing, reporting, invoicing, accounting and cost-sharing needs. Those states currently using the system are reimbursed by the federal government in less than one-year rather than the 3 to 5 years it currently takes IDL to be reimbursed. The hope is to have the system running by next year. The reimbursable amount is currently $1.7 million.
Highlights From a Few Deployments
Public Information Officer Robbie Johnson (PIO2T) is finishing her second week with the Type 2 California Incident Management Team 13 at the Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Forest.
 Robbie Johnson by the famed Grizzly Giant Sequoia Tree saved from the Washburn Fire
Among her many responsibilities, Robbie shoots and produces videos and writes social media posts for the team. She also introduced a new, streamlined way for incident personnel to share photos and videos with the incident PIOs using a QR code and Dropbox account. She originally developed this new approach for IDL's own use, but it has been well received and is likely to be adopted by other incident management teams. Coverage of Robbie's nationally broadcast interview is viewable online.
Several IDL employees took assignments in Alaska including Karen Robinson (PIO2T). Karen has returned from her 21 days in Alaska. Most of her time was at a fire camp near Fairbanks. She worked with two teams the Great Basin Type 3 IMT 4 and the Idaho Team 1 (IMT3) over the 21 days. The highlight of her assignment was spending time at the fire camp in the Arctic Circle. She helped construct the electric bear fence in a camp and she wrote a story about the use of bear dogs in the Arctic Circle camp. The news story can be read here.
 Karen Robinson in front of the FirstNet Communications truck at the Arctic Circle
Tyre Holfeltz served as the Logistics Chief for Idaho Team 1 IMT3 in Alaska. He was called upon to support operations covering fires from the Yukon River Crossing to North of Snowden Alaska. He faced many challenges. Communications were limited and a repeater system had to be created and deployed for a single network across the entire complex. There were no catering services so "food boxes" had to be created. Grizzly and black bears, wolves and moose were another challenge. They purchased enough parts to put together and electric fence system to surround the food and garbage, supplementing the bear dog patrols.
 Team putting together the electric fence to keep bears and wolves away from food and garbage
Julia Lauch served with the South Idaho IMT3 as Incident Commander trainee on their recent assignment to Alaska. It is an assignment she will never forget. Experiencing fire in Alaska gave her a new perspective on various fuel types and terrain as compared to the lower 48. She also faced a number of challenges. The incident command post was in Fairbanks. It was a 3 hour drive to the northern most camp and a 5.5 hour helicopter ride (with 2 fuel stops) to recon the southern-most fires One remote community was only accessible by air or boat. Communications with remote areas was also very challenging
 Julia Lauch on a boat heading out to a remote area of operations
Former Controller Donna Jones Passes Away
Former Idaho State Controller and Land Board member Donna Jones passed away on Friday, July 8, at the age of 83. She was one of the first Land Board Members to stop in and visit IDL Supervisory Area offices whenever possible, letting staff know she was interested in the work they were doing and building relationships. She often said the relationships made her a more effective leader.
Donna was a trailblazer for women and is a superb example for young women today. She broke the glass ceiling, being the first woman to chair the House Revenue and Taxation Committee and the first woman to serve as State Controller.
She was was a leader of the highest caliber, leading by example, always honest and doing what was right despite what the political consequences might be. She always made very thoughtful decisions and had undivided loyalty to the children of Idaho and to all the beneficiaries.
She was well loved and an inspirations to many. She leaves behind three adult children and many grandchildren.
Photo circa 2008. Pictured left to right: Roger Jansson, Donna Jones and Mick Schanilec
Timber Bureau, IT Steering Committee Launch New Email Newsletters
Earlier this week IDL's Timber Bureau distributed its first text and email-based timber sale notification using a new service announced in a July 11 news release. This system streamlines communications with timber sale purchasers and allows individuals to sign up online to receive notification about future sales.
The IT Steering Committee also launched a new monthly IT update. This communications helps IDL team members understand the agency's technology priorities and the strategic direction provided by the IT Steering Committee.
Archives of both publications are available under the Newsletter Archive section of our One Team, One Voice webpage.
One Team One Voice Webpage
With multiple communication channels at our disposal – our website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, newsletters and individual conversations – sharing stories broadly has never been easier. However, given this abundance of communication channels, it’s crucial for our team speak with one voice. Otherwise, important messages we’re trying to communicate can be lost.
The One Team, One Voice webpage features the following resources:
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