Weekly Fire Update
IDL has one major fire on land under its protection responsibility. The Flat Fire is located about one mile northeast of Pioneerville in Boise County. The fire started August 5 after a thunderstorm went through the area. The wildfire is burning on private and U.S. Forest Service lands, and is approximately 3,585 acres and 14% contained. The Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 6 is now managing the fire with 332 fire personnel on scene. (see additional information below)
As of Monday, August 19, 2024, IDL has spent a total of approximately $29.7 million on fire suppression activities. Approximately $2.6 million of that is reimbursable to IDL for assisting other agencies on their fires, leaving a total estimated net obligation to the General Fund of $27 million so far this year.
Year to date there have been 244 fires on IDL Protection, covering 23,817 acres.
 As of Monday 8-19-24
Flat Fire
Location: Approx. 1 mile northeast of Pioneerville in Boise County, Idaho
Reported: August 5, 2024
Cause: Lightning/Natural
Acres: 3,585
Containment: 14%
Personnel: 332 (10 hand crews, 10 engines, 4 water tenders, 3 dozers, 1 masticator and 4 helicopters)
Fuels: Timber with grass and understory
Highlights:
The Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 6, led by Incident Commander Mack McFarland, assumed command of the Flat Fire at 6:00 a.m., August 19, 2024. The Complex Incident Management Team brings additional resources and management capabilities to implement a full suppression strategy for the Flat Fire. The Flat Fire was first detected August 5 after a thunderstorm moved through the area.
The fire has seen moderate activity with minimal growth. Minimal torching and spread from downhill rolling of burning materials is expected today. Crews have begun mop-up of the north and west sides of the fire. On the east side of the fire, crews continue constructing dozer line and cleaning up snags. Crews are continuing work building lines to contain fire growth on the fire’s southern edge in order to prevent the fire from establishing itself in the Elk Creek drainage.
Flat Fire Community Meeting: The meeting will be at 6:00 p.m. Monday, August 19 at the Ray Robison Community Hall in Idaho City. Fire personnel will provide the latest update on Flat Fire activity.
Fire Behavior & Weather: Cooler weather is expected this week with 20-25 percent humidity levels in the fire area. Winds are expected to continue from the south at 6-10 mph. Gusts up to 20 mph are possible which could lead to increased fire activity.
Road and Trail Closures and Restrictions:
The Boise National Forest has implemented an Area Closure for the Flat Fire. See link for additional information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices
The Summit Flat Road (#380) between Pioneerville and Coulter Summit is also closed for public and firefighter safety.
 Flat Fire Morning Briefing with IDL team - photo by Ruth Luke
One-time Bonuses to Employees Who Participate In Fire
A Message from Director Miller:
It has certainly been a busy fire season, with more to come, and I want folks to know how much I appreciate staff coming together every season to participate in our fire suppression efforts in many different capacities. It truly is an all-hands team effort, and I thank you.
This past legislative session, thanks to the Governor, IDL was successful in securing one million dollars to provide one-time bonuses to our employees who participate in fire. In accordance with the Legislature’s approval to provide bonuses in FY25 for Department firefighting personnel (both fire and non-fire staff), the executive team has developed a plan to distribute these funds as shown in the matrix below. We recently received notification from the Division of Human Resources and the Division of Financial Management that our plan was approved! The size and scope of this effort is unprecedented for an Idaho agency and has been months of work in progress as we work towards implementation. I recognize that information sharing regarding this effort has been limited, which I know has been frustrating at times. However, I wanted to ensure that the Department was on solid ground, and I did not want to be in a position of having to ‘walk back’ any agency-wide preliminary communications prior to having all approvals in hand. Thank you for your patience, and I am thrilled that we are able to provide bonuses to over 300 IDL employees! We expect that the bonuses will be paid in the coming weeks. A special thank you goes out to Michele Andersen, Craig Foss, Rachelle Vance and Jenny Willis for the heavy lift they took on to make this happen.
A big thank you again goes out to all the IDL employees who participate in fire and play important roles every fire season. Whether on the fireline or off, the collective efforts of this team are critical in addressing the growing threat of wildfire across the state, and providing the quick response that our assessment payers and the public expect of us. Thank you all!
I know there will be questions, so please reach out to any executive team member with those questions.
With still a few weeks of fire season to go, I ask that you continue to be mindful of your safety and the safety of others. Keep your head on a swivel and please take care of each other. Thank you!
Fire Bonus Matrix
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Bonus Amount
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Targeted Staff
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$5,000
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Permanent Lands Resource Forement
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$3,000
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Permanent Fire Wardens, Assistant Fire Wardens, Fire Cache Storekeepers, Fire Dispatchers
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$2,000
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Permanent red carded staff
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$2,000
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Returning seasonal firefighters
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Governor Visits the Gwen and Texas Fires
In effort to support the people who fell victim to the Gwen and Texas fires, Governor Little flew to the site August 15. The Governor was accompanied by Director Miller and Robbie Johnson.
The Governor received a birds eye view of the aftermath. The Gwen Fire burned close to 30,000 acres destroying 38 homes and 122 outbuildings. The Blackhawk landed in Lapwai, giving the governor the opportunity to address the community.
The Governor said he was grateful that no lives were lost in these fires despite the significant damage they left behind.
In addition to thanking the responding fire agencies, he specifically pointed out the work of local farmers that he saw firsthand on his tour on Thursday.
 Fire Warden Kevin Chaffee talks to the Governor Little about what they are viewing on the helicopter tour of the Gwen Fire - photo by Dustin Miller
 News Conference in Lapwai - photo by Robbie Johnson
 IDL staff serving others by dishing up breakfast to firefighters - photo by Chelsea Dye
Fire Restrictions Currently in Place
Fire Restrictions are going into place as temperatures continue to rise. The state is divided into eight Fire Restriction Areas with zones established within. Each area corresponds with the fire dispatch area boundaries. Interagency coordination between fire management agencies with the areas are used to initiate restrictions. This helps provide consistency among the land management partners, while defining the restriction boundaries so they are easily distinguishable to the public.
The purpose of fire restrictions is to reduce the risk of human-caused fires during unusually high fire danger and/or burning conditions, and when other prevention efforts have been exhausted.
The following areas are in Stage 1 fire restrictions that include all lands managed by or are under the fire protection of Idaho Department of Lands, Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, or other tribal or federal agencies:
Central Idaho - all zones
Cassia Zone - within the boundary of Sawtooth National Forest
North Sawtooth Zone - within the boundary of Sawtooth National Forest
Grangeville - all zones
Payette - all zones
Boise - West Central Mountain zone
More information on Fire Restrictions as well as FAQs regarding Stage 1 and Stage 2 restrictions may be found on IDLs Fire Restriction Finder Website.
Protecting Existing IDL Easement Rights
The Packers 1 and Vandals Won acquisitions (32,160 acres and 18,050 acres, respectively) not only means more timberland for the endowments, but it also means better access for management of other endowment land as well as additional access for the public. But it can't just be taken for granted. A great deal of work went into verifying the 776 miles of benefitting road easements IDL has legally access endowment lands, the 179 miles of encumbering road easements for going through endowment lands and verifying what conservation easements are legally in place.
It took a strong team two years to get through not only the 955 miles of easements, but then add on the title commitments, acquisition files, land surveys, and records searches with multiple county courthouses. These efforts resulted in substantial improvements to our land management systems for those properties.
IDL's efforts were led by Right-of-Way (ROW) staff and while they did much of the heavy lifting. The project could not have been completed without GIS who ensured all instruments were available in Lands Records, and for Renee Bettis the ROW TRSs for their support and dedication to maintaining comprehensive and precise land records.
The dedication and collaboration of all involved have greatly contributed to its success, laying a strong foundation for future endowment management initiatives.
Fire Prevention Message at the Boundary County Fair
Fire staff from Kootenai Valley took center stage at the Boundary County Fair to spread crucial information about wildfire prevention and the importance of creating defensible space around homes and properties. With wildfires becoming an increasingly pressing concern in the region, their presence at the fair was both timely and essential.
IDL's booth was a hub of activity, attracting fairgoers of all ages with informative brochures and one-on-one consultations. Staff and volunteers engaged with more than 500 members of the community, offering personalized advice on how to reduce wildfire risks. They demonstrated how simple actions, such as clearing brush, pruning trees, and maintaining a safe distance between vegetation and structures, can significantly enhance a property's defense against wildfires.
In addition to educating the public, the IDL team also provided resources for community members to take home, including checklists for fire-resistant landscaping and a sign up sheet to have local fire professionals conduct individual home and property assessments designed to help homeowners increase their resilience to wildfire. Forty people signed up for the assessments. These tools are designed to empower residents to take proactive steps in safeguarding their properties long after the fair is over.
The event was a success, with hundreds of community members leaving the fair better informed and motivated to take action. IDL's presence at the Boundary County Fair served as a crucial reminder that wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility, and that by working together, we can protect our homes, our properties, and our beautiful Idaho landscape from the threat of wildfires.
Photos by Gus Jackson, KV Assistant Warden
 40 people signed up to have assessments of their home and property
 Chase Chowning and Marta Matthews man the booth
Prevention Efforts at the Bonner County Fair
This week IDL Firefighters and Prevention Specialists from Pend Oreille Lake Forest Protective District (FPD), the Priest Lake FPD and the U.S. Forest Service teamed up at the Bonner County Fair.
At the booth the Bonner County Co-op promoted the 80th birthday of Smokey by selling T-shirts which helped raise money for future prevention activities, and they provided prevention handouts. Smokey also made a surprise visit this week.
The big hit of the week involved hands on experience for kids with a hose drill competition using a real IDL wildland fire engine. The popularity of the event rose with the temperatures, and the older kids discovered they could spray each other at the end of their competition. It was a great way to get out the prevention message and have some fun in the hot weather.
IDL is stepping up its game with fire prevention. This is the first time back at the fair since 2019 and the pandemic and its reemergence of at the Bonner County fair was well received.
Human-caused fires continue to be a problem throughout Idaho, and prevention efforts are known to increase the public’s awareness especially during critical times of the year. Four highway reader boards with prevention messages have been placed in strategic locations within Bonner and Boundary counties.
 photo by Brian Evans
 from left to right, Ryan Bantly Pend Oreille Lake FPD firefighter, Luke Sater Pend Oreille Lake FPD fire fighter & fire prevention liason -photo by Brian Hicks
 photo by Brian Evans
Heidi Hammond Expands Her Role as a New PIO3 Trainee in the Ponderosa Supervisory Area
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IDL is proud to recognize Heidi Hammond, who, in addition to her primary role as an Office Specialist 2 in the Ponderosa Supervisory Area, has recently taken on the responsibilities of a Public Information Officer (PIO) during the Gwen Fire. Now serving as a PIO3 Trainee with an active task book, Heidi’s ability to balance her regular duties while contributing to the firefighting efforts exemplifies her dedication and versatility. |
In her day-to-day role as an Office Specialist 2, Heidi plays a critical part in supporting the operations of the Ponderosa Supervisory Area. When the Gwen Fire broke out, Heidi stepped up to expand her responsibilities.
Heidi’s ability to effectively communicate with the public was crucial in keeping the community informed and safe during the fire. Her local knowledge and strong ties to the community were particularly valuable. Her insight into the region helped the incident management team better understand local dynamics and find the best places to share critical fire information.
Heidi said: “I enjoyed working closely with the PIO from BLM while on the team. Thank you for these kind words. I’m glad I could help in such a chaotic time for so many.”
The Idaho Department of Lands and the Ponderosa Supervisory Area are deeply grateful to Heidi Hammond for her exceptional work and commitment.
New IDL Logo
For many years IDL has had two logos, one for general IDL and one for the fire program. This has differed from all other state agencies that use only one logo.
As such, the Executive Team has decided that it would be better to have just one logo to represent the agency and has chosen the fire logo.
IDL will now begin the process of replacing letterhead, signs throughout the state and anything else that now has the general IDL logo.
The new logo can be found in Sharepoint under Administration.
One Team on Wildfires
 Dustin Miller, Cameron Swisher, and Jason Laney loading the truck with supplies for Miller to take up to the Flat Fire - photo by Ruth Luke
IDL staff serving others by dishing up breakfast to firefighters - photo by Chelsea Dye
In Case You Missed It
Here's a recap of other recent IDL newsletters you may find interesting:
One Team One Voice Newsletter Archive
Did you miss some important news? Are you curious about knowing what's happening across IDL? Our One Team, One Voice webpage contains an archive of IDL's newsletters covering:
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