IDL tracks and monitors news coverage of our activities and significant events that may impact our operations, recapping the coverage in this newsletter.
This publication also details IDL's social media posts for the week, keeping stakeholders and our front-line customer service staff apprised of our public-facing communications.
Eastern Idaho fire restrictions lifted as wildfire season draws to a close
Local News 8, 9-3-25
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) —As the threat of wildfire danger has lessened over the past week, state and federal land management agencies will rescind Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on lands within the Eastern Idaho Fire Restriction Area effective September 4, 2025, at 12:01 a.m.
These restrictions were put into effect on August 7 when fire danger and burning conditions were unusually high. Current conditions no longer meet the necessary criteria outlined in the Idaho State Fire Restrictions Plan to remain in Stang 1 Fire Restrictions.
Visitors are reminded to continue to be careful when recreating on public lands. Although fire restrictions are rescinded, fire season is not over and there is still a threat of human caused wildfires. One of the leading causes of fall season wildfires in eastern Idaho is abandoned warming fires left in remote locations. Now is not the time to become complacent.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions rescinded for Eastern Idaho
Idaho State Journal, 9-3-25
IDAHO FALLS — As the threat of wildfire danger has lessened over the past week, state and federal land management agencies will rescind Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on lands within the Eastern Idaho Fire Restriction Area effective Thursday at 12:01 a.m.
These restrictions were put into effect on Aug. 7 when fire danger and burning conditions were unusually high. Current conditions no longer meet the necessary criteria outlined in the Idaho State Fire Restrictions Plan to remain in Stang 1 Fire Restrictions.
Visitors are reminded to continue to be careful when recreating on public lands. Although fire restrictions are rescinded, fire season is not over, and there is still a threat of human-caused wildfires. One of the leading causes of fall season wildfires in Eastern Idaho is abandoned warming fires left in remote locations. Now is not the time to become complacent.
Idaho preparing to sell 160 acres of state-owned endowment land near the Tetons
Idaho Capital Sun, 9-3-25
Nobody from the state gave fifth-generation Idaho rancher Nick Beard a heads up that state officials were considering auctioning off the state endowment rangeland his family has leased for grazing since the 1990s.
Instead, his wife found out through a Facebook post that the 160-acre parcel of land near Driggs and the Teton Range is set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Even though Beard’s family signed a lease with the state to graze cattle on the property through 2032, the Facebook post was true.
On July 15, the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners voted 5-0 to sell the 160-acre parcel of land, which state officials refer to as the Driggs 160, through a public auction.
Idaho rancher blindsided by land auction as state plans to sell leased rangeland
CBS2 News, 9-3-25
DRIGGS, Idaho (CBS2) — The Idaho Capital Sun reports that fifth-generation Idaho rancher Nick Beard was caught off guard when he discovered through a Facebook post that the state endowment rangeland his family has leased for grazing since the 1990s is set to be auctioned off.
Despite having a lease with the state through 2032, the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners voted unanimously on July 15 to sell the 160-acre parcel near Driggs and the Teton Range to the highest bidder.
It was not until July 21, nearly a week after the Land Board's decision, that someone from the Idaho Department of Lands informed Beard of the auction.
‘Total shock’: Families lose decades of legacy at Priest Lake as state auctions off their leased land
The Spokesman-Review, 8-31-25
Doug Cossette’s parents first took him to Priest Lake three months after he was born in 1951. It’s been in his blood ever since.
Frequent visits to the deep, clear-water lake known for sandy shores that are ringed by majestic Selkirk Mountain peaks became something more meaningful in 1967.
That’s when Cossette’s father purchased for about $100 a lease from a family from Tonasket, Washington, for a lot, owned by the state of Idaho, on the east side of Priest Lake that formed a point near Eight Mile Island.
That next spring, when Cossette and his two brothers took too long to dismantle the old cabin there, their father put a match to the problem and burned it down in 20 minutes.
“Then we started digging,” Doug Cossette said. “I was 17. We moved in 19 days after we started it.”
DOVER — City officials want to hear from Dover residents about what they think of the city's community forestry plan.
A public meeting will be held on the plan at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Dover City Hall, 699 Lakeshore Ave., Dover.
"Please attend. Your input is very important in developing this plan," Dover Mayor George Eskridge said.
The city recently received a grant from the Idaho Department of Lands Urban and Community Forestry program to inventory trees in the city rights-of-way and on city-owned property. In conjunction with the tree inventory, the city will be developing an Urban Forestry Management Plan for these trees.
The public's input is needed to develop the plan, Eskridge said.
Wildfires Continue to Burn Across Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forests
DailyFly 9-3-25
KAMIAH, ID – Wildfire activity across the Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forests increased slightly over the holiday weekend as warm, dry weather lingered. Forecasts indicate similar conditions will persist through the week, with north and northwest winds expected Thursday before shifting east into Friday. Officials warn that thicker smoke from Canada could move into the region by the end of the week. A weakening high-pressure ridge may allow showers and thunderstorms to return over the weekend.
Palouse Ranger District
The White Pine Fire, located northeast of Potlatch near White Pine Campground and Trailhead, is estimated at 30 acres and remains in extended attack. Crews are working to open access routes and construct fire lines. Heavy road traffic is expected along ID Highway 6 and several forest service roads. The Giant White Pine Campground has been closed, along with portions of Palouse Divide Road and nearby trails.
Moose Creek Ranger District
The Island Creek Fire, detected July 31 near Sob Point north of Elk City, remains under the command of Northern Rockies Team 2 with an area closure in place. The Rhoda Creek/Blacktail Fires, detected August 20, have merged and now cover more than 2,100 acres in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, though no closures are currently in effect. The Schwar Creek Fire, east of Elk City, is estimated at 443 acres and is not currently prompting closures.
SANDPOINT — After almost three weeks, the Sunset Fire is 100% contained.
"The crews have been busting hard to get it there because they knew today was going to be a hot one," said Jennifer Russell, Idaho Department of Lands fire information officer.
Crews made a concerted effort to reach complete containment knowing that hot weather was forecast for the region through the end of the week. Temperatures are forecast to reach the mid-90s to low 100s on Wednesday before dropping slightly with highs from the upper 80s to mid-90s through Saturday.
Fire crews spent Tuesday working to strengthen containment lines and checking for potential hot spots in the fire's interior.
SANDPOINT — After weeks of hard work, containment of the Sunset Fire is nearly 100%, Idaho Department of Lands officials said Monday.
Containment of the 3,183-acre fire is at 94%, with remaining area located near the heel of the fire on its southern flank. There are 336 personnel assigned to fight the wildfire in southern Bonner County.
"Fire activity remains minimal with creeping and smoldering," said Mike McManus, incident commander of the North Idaho Type 3 Incident Management Team. "Smoke may continue to be noticeable in the interior areas around Blacktail Mountain as pockets of heavy fuels burn. These fuels do not pose any threats to containment lines."
Local crews take over as containment grows on Sunset Fire
Bonner County Daily Bee, 8-31-25
SANDPOINT — Containment on the Sunset Fire has reached 80% as the Northern Rockies Team 5 complex incident management team prepares to transfer command to a local team.
North Idaho Team 3 was scheduled to assume command of the fire at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The fire’s size has been adjusted to 3,183 acres following more accurate infrared mapping. It remains 80% contained, with 432 personnel assigned to suppression efforts.
Containment growing for wildfire burning near Athol
KXLY, 8-30-25
ATHOL, Idaho -- Containment continues to grow for an over 3,100-acre wildfire burning near Athol.
According to the Idaho Department of Lands, The Sunset Fire is 3,183 acres and 80% contained. Acreage was lowered due to more accurate infrared mapping of the fire.
On Saturday, crews will continue to remove hoses and sprinklers in areas where they are no longer needed.
Fire crews will also continue demobilizing from the fire. Helicopters will continue supporting ground crews as needed.
IDL says minimal fire behavior, including smoldering and creeping, will continue in the areas inside the fire perimeter where heat is still located.
Not all areas are at this stage, so we remind the public to be aware of the hazards associated with recently burned areas. Use caution around fire weakened trees, and #RecreateResponsiblyIdaho #Together4Idaho
