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Timber Harvests on Idaho's Endowment Lands Hits New High, Benefiting Public Schools
Big Country News, 7-7-23
BOISE - According to the Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho’s Public School children and other beneficiaries will see endowment financial support increase thanks to a more robust Forest Asset Management Plan. This fiscal year will have the largest recommended sales volume in Idaho Department of Lands history.
IDL is headed into the fifth year of the plan that increased recommended sales volume by 81 million board feet over five years. It incrementally took the recommended sales volume from 247 million board feet in 2019 up to 328 million board feet this year.
IDL manages about one million acres of endowment timberlands, which make up about six percent Idaho’s productive forestlands. However, given the agency’s long-term approach to sustainable forestry, endowment land supplies nearly one-third of the sawlogs that feed Idaho’s lumber mills.
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Idaho officials investigating cause of 4th of July Kidd Island fire
KXLY, 7-7-23
COEUR D'ALENE, ID. -- The Idaho Department of Lands is looking for answers on how a fire started on Kidd Island on the 4th of July.
IDL says they're asking the public information on what sparked the 1.5-acre fire on Kidd Island beach.
According to IDL, two helicopters made about 40 water drops, and multiple boats were used to help suppress the fire.
“If you were near the Kidd Island beach on the Fourth of July, prior to about 4 pm, please contact us. Tell us if you saw anything suspicious or anyone in the area who may have started the fire,” said IDL fire investigator Scott Burnside.
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53 firefighters battle blaze near Hayden Lake
Coeur d'Alene Press, 7-7-23
Aircraft fly low over Hayden Lake Thursday as they come in to pick up water to fight a fire near the east end of the lake.
Photo by Jim Lyon
HAYDEN LAKE — More than 50 firefighters were battling a 5-acre forest fire east of Hayden Lake on Thursday.
The Horse Ridge Fire near Mokins Bay was reported about 3 p.m. Wednesday. It is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike a couple of weeks ago that smoldered before it ignited into a large fire.
No injuries have been reported and no structures have been lost.
Sharla Arledge, Idaho Department of Lands spokeswoman, said aircraft known as amphibious water scoopers and helicopters were called in to try and douse the blaze.
Both attracted attention Wednesday as they swooped in on Hayden Lake for water, then dropped it on the fire.
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Idaho grapples with high turnover among the state’s seasonal firefighters
Idaho Capital Sun, 7-7-23
Due to high turnover and competition with federal agencies, half of the state of Idaho’s seasonal wildland firefighters are new, which has resulted in fewer experienced firefighters filling leadership positions, state officials said.
The state has full staffing overall with 170 seasonal firefighters, said Josh Harvey, the Idaho Department of Lands fire management chief. But the state is lacking experienced personnel, such as incident commanders and qualified engine bosses, who each lead a single fire engine and its personnel.
“Experienced firefighters really do have a major impact on how successful we are and keeping our folks safe,” Harvey said in a telephone interview. “We’ve got the staff to fight fires and fill all the seats on the engines. It’s just more of a concern to us if we had another 2021 fire season or a 2015 type season where fires really were explosive, they grew rapidly and there were a lot of starts. It creates situations where inexperienced firefighters may not recognize some hazards they are facing. From that standpoint, it’s a concern to us.”
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Fire Investigators Need Your Help Identifying the Cause of the Kidd Island Fire
Big Country News, 7-6-23
COEUR D’ALENE – Independence Day sparked more than national pride at Kidd Island this year, now Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) fire investigators need your help in identifying the cause of a fire.
Crews from Idaho Department of Lands, Mica Kidd Fire District, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, and East Side Fire District responded to the 1.5-acre fire above the Kidd Island beach.
Given the steep slope, suppressing the fire quickly before it could spread required the help of two helicopters which made about 40 water drops, and multiple fire boats.
Passengers on nearly 200 boats watched fire crews battle the blaze and may hold the key to solving the investigation.
“If you were near the Kidd Island beach on the Fourth of July, prior to about 4 pm, please contact us. Tell us if you saw anything suspicious or anyone in the area who may have started the fire,” said IDL fire investigator Scott Burnside.
“We’re working to identify any campers or boaters who may have been in the immediate area of the fire and obtain photos of the incident which may have been taken shortly after the fire ignited,” added Burnside. “Any information you can provide will help us conclude this investigation.”
IDL’s fire investigation team can be reached by calling (208) 666-8697. Photos can be emailed to sburnside@idl.idaho.gov.
Idaho Transportation, Lands officials look to the past to help prevent roadside wildfires in the future
Clearwater Tribune, 7-5-23
Boise, ID – Before hitting the road for weekend or holiday adventures, officials from the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) want Idahoans and Gem State visitors to make sure the safety chains attached to their trailers won’t drag and spark fires, and that tires are road worthy so they don’t blow out.
“Flat tires on vehicles and trailers pose wildfire risks when metal rims scrape along asphalt, throwing sparks into roadside fuels like dry grass”, said ITD director Scott Stokes. “Before heading out, check your tire pressure and look for damage or wear that could lead to tire failure.”
Idaho has seen catastrophic wildfires from a flat tire in the past, something state officials hope to avoid in the future. In 1992 a negligent motorist drove for miles with a flat tire on the car he was towing behind his motorhome. It started a 6,258 acre fire along Highway 55 near Banks, ID, with the driver receiving a $1.3 million bill for the cost of fighting the blaze.
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Kamiah timber sale will benefit schools
Idaho County Free Press, 7-5-23
KAMIAH — The Idaho Department of Lands sold timber at a sale on Wednesday, June 28, at Kamiah. Misery Vinter, located eight miles northeast of Kooskia, was sold to IFG Timber LLC. The estimated 2,920 MBF was sold for an average price of $168.61 per MBF. Proceeds will benefit the State Hospital South and public school endowments.
Guest Opinion: You can drastically alter our wildfire risk
Idaho County Free Press, 7-5-23
By Dustin Miller, director of the Idaho Department of Lands
We know the Smokey Bear saying by heart: “Only you can prevent forest fires.” But every year, nationally, around 80% of wildfires are caused by humans. That jumps to more than 90% of fires when you look at what the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) has responded to this year. It could be a thrown cigarette, a debris burning pile not carefully watched, a campfire left burning, dragging chains or parking on dry grass. The list goes on.
There is no room for mistakes when looking to protect our communities and our natural resources from wildfire. The significant precipitation we received this winter and spring has resulted in a lot of fine fuel growth, and as temperatures rise those fuels dry which increases the risk of wildfire.
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Guest Opinion: Let’s protect our lands this July Fourth – help prevent wildfires!
Clearwater Progress, 7-4-23
By Phil McGrane, Secretary of State and Idaho Land Board member
With the Fourth of July upon us, we celebrate our nation's independence and enjoy the beauty of our great state. For many of us, this means venturing into Idaho's public lands for activities like camping, hiking, and gathering around campfires with family and friends. However, in order to enjoy our lands, we must protect them.
The beginning of July also marks National Wildland Firefighter Day, Sunday, July 2. As we celebrate Independence Day, I encourage all Idahoans to also pause to recognize the sacrifice firefighters make on our behalf and to join me in working to reduce the risk of wildfires when enjoying our public lands this season.
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