Current News Coverage
Gov. Brad Little praises response to Gwen and Texas Ridge fires
Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 8-16-24
Idaho Gov. Brad Little, when touring the Gwen and Texas Ridge fires Thursday, said he was struck by the devastation but also the teamwork between state, tribal and county governments, and private volunteers that worked to save lives and ultimately bring the blazes under control.
The Gwen Fire in particular crossed multiple jurisdictions. It started following a lightning strike in the Little Potlatch Canyon and blew up the next day when a cold front brought strong and erratic winds. The fire destroyed 25 homes, 13 recreation vehicles that served as homes, 118 out buildings and nearly 100 vehicles.
Firefighters from the Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho Departments of Lands, several rural volunteer fire districts and local residents and landowners worked to first stop the blaze and then to evacuate those in danger. An incident management team eventually took command of firefighting operations.
Little was impressed by the amount of fire lines that farmers created.
“Had they not done that, this fire would have been enormously larger,” he said.
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Gov. Brad Little praises response to Gwen and Texas Ridge fires
Lewiston Tribune, 8-16-24
Idaho Gov. Brad Little, when touring the Gwen and Texas Ridge fires Thursday, said he was struck by the devastation but also the teamwork between state, tribal and county governments, and private volunteers that worked to save lives and ultimately bring the blazes under control.
The Gwen Fire in particular crossed multiple jurisdictions. It started following a lightning strike in the Little Potlatch Canyon and blew up the next day when a cold front brought strong and erratic winds. The fire destroyed 25 homes, 13 recreation vehicles that served as homes, 118 out buildings and nearly 100 vehicles.
Firefighters from the Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho Departments of Lands, several rural volunteer fire districts and local residents and landowners worked to first stop the blaze and then to evacuate those in danger. An incident management team eventually took command of firefighting operations.
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IDL to auction six Payette Lake parcels
McCall Star-News
Six endowment land parcels around Payette Lake that are currently leased as cottage sites are set to be sold at public auction later this month by the Idaho Department of Lands.
The public auction will begin on Friday, Aug. 23 at 11 a.m. at the Waters Edge Event Center in Eagle, located at 287 E. Shore Dr.
The six parcels are all leased residential cottage sites with cabins on them. Each of the lots are located near Payette Lake, but only a lot at 3670 Warren Wagon Rd. is lakefront.
Minimum bids for the lots range from $430,000 to $2.8 million. Combined, the minimum bids would earn the lands department a total of $5.1 million.
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Idaho Governor Brad Little thanks those who fought Gwen, Texas Road wildfires
KREM, 8-15-24
LAPWAI, Idaho — The Gwen Fire burned close to 30,000 acres, destroying 38 homes and 122 outbuildings.
This comes as Idaho Governor Brad Little traveled to Nez Perce County on Thursday to visit what remains of the Gwen and nearby Texas fire.
Little got a birds eye view of the Gwen and Texas fires here in Nez Perce County.
After his tour, he landed here in a Blackhawk.
All eyes have been on the Gwen and Texas fires, including the eyes of local farmers, like Robert Blair.
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Gov. Little pledges support for long recovery ahead for survivors of Gwen and Texas Fires
KXLY, 8-15-24
LAPWAI, Idaho - Idaho Governor Brad Little met with community members in Lapwai Thursday afternoon, one of the communities that offered refuge to numerous victims of the devastating Gwen and Texas Fires.
Both fires are at or nearing 100% containment as of the last update. The estimated cost of suppression efforts for both is over $8 million.
"Property damage for the Gwen Fire consisted of 38 primary residences, 20-25 houses, and 13 RVs," said Idaho Department of Lands Ponderosa supervisory area manager Chris Tretter.
The Texas Fire destroyed four homes.
"I was struck flying over the miles and miles of fire line that have been put on by the local fire (and) farmers," Gov. Little said. "Had they not done that, this fire would have been enormously larger."
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More than a fair amount of fun
Bonner County Daily Bee, 8-15-24
Atlas Dorman, center, gets some help from mom Amy and Idaho Department of Lands firefighter Brian Evans in running a fire hose to put out a "fire" at the Bonner County Fair on Wednesday.
Photo by CAROLINE LOBSINGER
| August 15, 2024 1:00 AM
County officials welcome community residents and visitors alike to the annual event, inviting all to come out and attend the Bonner County Fair, which runs from Aug. 13 to 17, at the fairgrounds, 4203 N. Boyer Road.
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Idaho Governor Brad Little To Tour Destructive Gwen & Texas Fires Thursday
Pullman Radio, 8-14-24
Idaho Governor Brad Little will tour the destructive Gwen and Texas Wildfires in the Juliaetta and Kendrick areas Thursday.
Governor Little will fly over the burn scares in a helicopter before speaking with the media in Lapwai. Idaho Department of Lands will release the official numbers on structures lost in the blazes during the briefing. Initial reports announced that dozens of homes were destroyed in the fires. Colter’s Creek Winery South of Juliaetta was consumed in the flames. The fires broke out last month. The Texas Fire near Kendrick was human caused while the Gwen Fire outside Juliaetta was sparked by lightning. The fires are out.
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Governor Little to visit Lapwai Aug. 15
Coeur d'Alene Press, 8-14-24
Idaho Governor Brad Little has announced plans to visit Lapwai in Latah County on August 15th. The Governor’s schedule includes flying in a black hawk helicopter over the Gwen and Texas fires, according to a press release put out by the Idaho Department of Lands. This will give Governor Little a firsthand view of the fire damage and will "include areas of both success and loss," the press release reads.
Following the flyover the Governor will be briefed in Lapwai. The briefing will offer a chance to recognize the collective efforts of local farmers, state, communities, tribal agencies, and others in battling the fires, and to discuss the ongoing recovery efforts, needs and resources.
"The Governor’s visit underscores the importance of continued support for these communities as the process of rebuilding and healing from this historic combination of fire events continues," reads the press release. Members of the community are welcome to attend the briefing.
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Governor to Take Helicopter Tour Over Gwen and Texas Fire Sites on Thursday, Followed by Briefing in Lapwai
Big Country News, 8-14-24
LEWISTON - Idaho Governor Brad Little plans to be in Lapwai on Thursday, August 15. The Governor’s schedule includes flying in a Black Hawk helicopter over the sites of the Gwen and Texas fires.
After his flight there will be a briefing for the Governor in Lapwai. Officials say the briefing will offer a chance to recognize the collective efforts of local farmers, state, communities, tribal agencies, and others in battling the fires, and to discuss the ongoing recovery efforts, needs and resources.
"The Governor’s visit underscores the importance of continued support for these communities as the process of rebuilding and healing from this historic combination of fire events continues," says a statement from the Idaho Department of Lands.
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Idaho fire agencies using AI to detect wildfires
KTVB, 8-12-24
IDAHO, USA — Artificial intelligence - or AI - is used for more than just generating images online. Firefighters are using it this wildfire season to help detect when a fire sparks.
AI wildfire detection cameras can be put up where traditional lookout towers can't be built, and use an AI technology that scans for smoke.
"The cameras are essentially beefed-up, really nice security cameras that have a forty-power zoom," Idaho Department of Lands Deputy Chief Scott Hayes said.
The Idaho Department of Lands currently has six wildfire detection cameras. The live cameras send images back to a company called Alert West, which uses AI to detect anomalies - such as smoke.
"As soon as that anomaly is detected, it sends it into a detection center where they will actually have personnel reviewing those anomalies to see if it truly is smoke," Hayes said.
The tech can drastically cut down response times, like when a fire sparked near Julietta last month. The AI cameras alerted the Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association (C-PTPA), who quickly put out the flames.
"We were able to stop that fire at just less than two acres," C-PTPA Chief Fire Warden Kane Steinbruecker said. "Had that camera system not picked up that fire, it likely would have burned until seven or eight in the morning, until somebody had detected it on their way to work...At that point, that fire would have been 50 or 60 acres."
The IDL put up their first camera last May, and plans on having nine cameras by then end of this fire season. Most of the agency's cameras are in timberland north of McCall. Other agencies like the BLM and Idaho Power are also installing the same types of cameras in areas across the Gem State.
The live cameras can be viewed here, and are a new piece of technology that helps fire bosses fight flames and manage resources.
"If we can get intelligence on that fire and improve our situational awareness prior to crews arriving on the fire, oftentimes we can make a decision on whether or not we need to send additional resources," Steinbruecker said.
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AI being used to detect wildfires
WRAL, 8-12-24
An important new piece of technology is helping combat an already difficult wildfire season. The really basic idea is actually not that far from the the old lookout towers of um of years ago, the Idaho Department of Lands is using cameras and artificial intelligence to catch wildfires, right as they start.
So we've got pan tilt zoom cameras that are installed on mostly installed on existing infrastructure, um radio communication sites, that sort of thing and the cameras are um essentially beefed up really nice security cameras that they have a 40 power zoom.
The live cameras send images back to a company called Alert West which uses artificial intelligence to detect any anomalies like smoke. And as soon as that anomaly that could potentially look like smoke, it sends it into a detection center and center, they call it where they actually will have personnel reviewing those um those anomalies to see if it truly is smoke, which can help cut down response times they were on it within an hour. Like when a fire sparked near Julietta last month, the A I cameras alerted the Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association who quickly put out the flames we were able to stop that fire at just less than two acres.
Um, had that camera system not picked up that fire. It likely would have burned until seven or eight o'clock in the morning until somebody, somebody would have detected it on their way to work. At that point. That fire would have been 50 or 60 acres.
The IDL put up their first camera last May. We should have nine of them up by the end of this fire season helping fire bosses fight flames and manage their resources. If we can get intelligence on that fire and improve our situational awareness. Prior to crews arriving on the fire, oftentimes we can make a decision on whether or not we need to send additional resources.
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Boise firefighter in critical condition after Idaho wildfire accident. Here’s how to help
Idaho Statesman, 8-12-24
A fundraiser set up for Justin “Riley” Shaw’s family shared a photo of Shaw. GoFundMe A firefighter from Boise is facing life-threatening injuries after an accident occurred in Central Idaho battling a wildfire.
Justin “Riley” Shaw, a 26-year-old assistant crew foreman, was working on the Coffee Can Saddle Fire that recently started in the Salmon River Ranger District in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. A falling tree struck him at about 10 p.m. Saturday, the U.S. Forest Service said in a news release Monday.
Shaw was flown by helicopter to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston before being taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, according to the release, and was listed in critical condition.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured firefighter, as well as their affected family, friends, and co-workers,” the Forest Service said in its release, which asked for “patience and understanding during this difficult time.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser set up for Shaw had raised more than $14,000 as of Monday afternoon. The account described Shaw as a “dedicated wildland firefighter and proud Christian born and raised in Idaho,” and it said he had suffered a “traumatic brain injury as well as several broken bones.”
Shaw will be in the hospital’s intensive care unit for the foreseeable future, according to the GoFundMe page.
“We are asking for any donations that can go towards taking the financial stress off his family while they are traveling back and forth from Boise, Idaho, to Spokane, Washington, to be with Riley for as long as he is in the hospital, which will be months,” Courtney Shaw, the creator of the GoFundMe, wrote on the account.
Acting Forest Supervisor Molly Ryan said the “quick actions” of other firefighters, dispatch and local first responders helped make sure Shaw got the “best care possible.”
“Justin and his family have the full support of the wildland firefighting community and our Forest Service staff,” Ryan said in the news release.
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Opinion: Take care to protect our state from wildfires
Post Register, 8-10-24
The heat, smoke and ash create a difficult environment outdoors for certain groups, including young children, the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with existing respiratory issues. Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality monitors air quality in the state, which can help identify the safest times to venture outside and when it’s safer to remain indoors. Every Idahoan can access this information at www.airquality.deq.idaho.gov.
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Firefighter hospitalized in Spokane after getting hurt battling north Idaho fire
KHQ. 9-12-24
SPOKANE, Wash. — A U.S. Forest Service firefighter is receiving care at the Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane after he was struck by a tree fighting a wildfire in the Nez Perce National Forest on Saturday.
The injured firefighter, who hasn't been named, was a part of the initial attack on a new fire late Saturday evening when he was hit by the tree.
Firefighters call the fire the Coffee Can Saddle Fire. It's burning in the Salmon River Ranger District, which covers an area north of Riggins and south of White Bird. It's a small fire that isn't threatening any structures.
The firefighter was first airlifted to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston before he was flown to Sacred Heart where he remained as of Monday morning.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured firefighter, as well as their affected family, friends and co-workers," the forest service said in a release.
The release said additional information, including the extent of the firefighter's injuries, wasn't available as of Monday morning.
Public hearing Aug. 15 for rulemaking for IDAPA 20.07.02
Argus Observer, 8-9-24
BOISE — IDAPA 20.07.02 Rules Governing Conservation of Oil and Natural Gas in the State of Idaho is going through the rulemaking process this year.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and the proposed text is now available for review on the rulemaking webpage on the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Website at https://bit.ly/46KvRvM.
The proposed text will be presented at the proposed rulemaking public hearing at 1 p.m. Aug. 15. The hearing will be at the Idaho Department of Lands, Boise Staff Office, Garnet Conference Room, 300 N. 6th St., Suite 103. A Zoom option will also be available at https://bit.ly/3SGShba. For this, the Meeting ID is 861 5213 2781 and passcode is 158510. To Dial in, call 1 (669) 219-2599.
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The proposed text will also be presented to the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission at its regular meeting at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 20. The Commission will not take public comment at that meeting.
Written comments on the proposed rule must be submitted by Aug. 28, 2024.
IDL Wildfire News
Field Fire Burns South Of Troy
Pullman Radio KQQQ, 8-13-24
A large field fire burned South of Troy on Monday afternoon.
The Latah County Sheriff’s Office reports that Troy, Deary, Moscow, Kendrick and Juliaetta Volunteer Firefighters were called to the blaze off Bethel Road around 5:00. The fire burned about 40 acres. Idaho Department of Lands crews responded and took over command on the blaze allowing the volunteers to go home.
BOCC sees light agenda
Bonner County Daily Bee, 8-4-24
SANDPOINT — The Bonner County Board of Commissioners will cover a range of topics at its upcoming meeting Tuesday, from approving liquor licenses to discussing emergency management agreements.
As part of its consent agenda, the board will review minutes from its July 30 meeting, consider a catering permit for Popeye's Lounge in Priest River, and a liquor license for Clark Fork Chevron.
Bonner County Clerk Michael Rosedale will seek approval for fiscal year 2024 batch claims totaling over $940,000 for approval.
Emergency Management Director Nick Zahler will seek approval for a memorandum of understanding with the Idaho Department of Lands.
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Flat Fire reaches 1,100 acres Northeast of Pioneerville
KIVI, 8-11-24
Update Aug. 11, 7 p.m. MT: The Flat Fire is now estimated at a little over 1,100 acres.
No structures are currently threatened, and the fire continues to move East, away from the community of Pioneerville.
There are currently about 240 fire personnel from the state, federal and contracted resources. Dozers and handcrews are building fireline in effort to contain the wildfire.
The Flat Fire, about 1.5 miles northeast of Pioneerville in Boise County, has burned approximately 1,050 acres. It is moving east, away from Pioneerville, and is not currently threatening any structures.
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Wildfire burns 1,000 acres near Pioneerville
KHQ, 8-11-24
PIONEERVILLE, Idaho – Over 200 fire personnel are fighting the Flat Fire which has reached over 1,100 acres.
According to the Idaho Department of Lands, 240 fire personnel are currently at the Flat Fire, 1.5 miles northeast of Pioneerville in Boise County. The fire started from a thunderstorm on Aug. 5.
Updated at 5:55 on Aug. 11
A wildfire burning a mile-and-a-half northeast from Pioneerville is estimated at 1,000 acres by the Idaho Department of Lands.
According to the department, the Flat Fire has drawn 185 fire personnel in an effort to contain the fire, but no homes are currently threatened. Summit Flat Road is closed between Pioneerville and Coulter Summit for the safety of everyone living in Boise County.
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Wildfire burns 1,000 acres near Pioneerville
Fox28, 8-10-24
PIONEERVILLE, Idaho – A wildfire burning a mile-and-a-half northeast from Pioneerville is estimated at 1,000 acres by the Idaho Department of Lands.
According to the department, the Flat Fire has drawn 185 fire personnel in an effort to contain the fire, but no homes are currently threatened. Summit Flat Road is closed between Pioneerville and Coulter Summit for the safety of everyone living in Boise County.
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Governor Tour of Gwen Fire
Posted August 15, 2024
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Media: Download video of Governor Little comments regarding Gwen and Texas fires today, August 15.
Video by Robbie Johnson/Idaho Department of Lands
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