Wildfire Season Update
It has been an early, hard hitting fire season across the Northwest.
As of Tuesday, August 3, 2026, IDL has spent a total of approximately $23.3 million on fire suppression activities. Approximately $6.5 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 $16.8 million so far this year.
IDL currently has no fires on lands under its protection, however, we have been hard at work helping our partners battle blazes that threaten our communities and lands IDL shares costs in protecting.
IDL is assisting with the Big Grass Fire that is threatening several Owyhee County communities and Jordan Valley That fire is nearly 360,000 acres with a Critical Incident Management Team now in place. More than 1000 people are assigned to this fire.
 Statistics as of August 7
Governor Highlights Regional Wildfire Response and Firefighter Support at Coeur d’Alene Fire Cache
Governor Brad Little joined U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz and Idaho Department of Lands Fire Management Bureau Chief Josh Harvey at the Coeur d’Alene Fire Cache today to highlight the importance of regional wildfire response, firefighter support, and public wildfire prevention during an active fire season across the West.
The governor thanked the thousands of firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency responders, and support personnel working to protect communities and natural resources. He also expressed Idaho’s support for those impacted by the devastating wildfires near Spokane, emphasizing the strong partnership between federal, state, and local agencies and Idaho’s commitment to assisting neighboring states when needed.
Speakers underscored the critical role of the fire cache in supplying firefighters with essential equipment as resources are stretched across multiple large incidents. They also encouraged Idahoans to do their part by following fire restrictions, preventing human-caused wildfires, and supporting trusted relief organizations assisting affected communities.
Following remarks from the governor, Chief Schultz and Bureau Chief Harvey provided additional updates on wildfire response efforts before taking questions from the media.
 Governor Little speaking at the news conference
 IDL Fire Management Bureau Chief Josh Harvey, Governor Brad Little and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz
 Gov. Little and Chief Schultz with Mica Fire Crew
Fire Restrictions
As of today, much of Idaho is under Fire Restrictions.
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.
Idaho has been divided into eight Fire Restriction Areas with zones established within. Each area corresponds with the fire dispatch area boundaries. Six of the Areas are in Stage 1 and one is in Stage 2.
The following Fire Restriction Area is now in Stage 2 Fire Restriction:
- Coeur d'Alene Fire Restriction Area: North Zone
The following Fire Restriction Areas are now in Stage 1 Fire Restriction:
- Coeur d'Alene Fire Restriction Area: South Zone
- Payette Fire Restriction Area: All Zones
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Boise Fire Restriction Area: All Zones
- South Idaho Fire Restriction Area: All Zones
- Central Idaho Fire Restriction Area: All Zones
- Eastern Idaho Fire Restriction Area: All Zones
Interagency coordination between fire management agencies within the areas is 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.
For more details please go to our Fire Restriction Finder webpage
You Asked. We Listened. Strategic Plan Progress Report Is Here!
One thing we’ve heard from both Land Board members, and IDL staff is a desire to better understand how we’re progressing on the goals and commitments in our Strategic Plan. We listened and this year, for the first time, IDL has developed a Strategic Plan Progress Report to help tell that story.
The report brings together accomplishments from across the Department and shows the progress our teams are making toward our foundational and future-proofing goals. More importantly, it connects the work happening every day across IDL back to the priorities we’ve established together in our Strategic Plan.
We’ll share the new Progress Report as part of our annual Strategic Plan presentation to the Land Board at its August 18 meeting, and the report will also be available afterward to share with employees, partners, and others interested in IDL’s progress.
This is an important step toward making our Strategic Plan more than a document, it’s a way to regularly show where we’re making progress, celebrate the work happening across IDL, and stay accountable for where we’re headed next.
Thank you to everyone who contributed updates and especially to those who encouraged us to find a better way to share our progress. You asked, we listened, and here it is!
Payette Land Exchange Public Meetings
IDL recently held three public meetings to discuss the possible Payette Land Exchange between IDL and the US Forest Service.
Between the meetings in Cascade, McCall and New Meadows, IDL staff met with about 134 people, the largest being in McCall with 100 people.
There was good discussion and similar questions that came up. People overwhelmingly preferred Alternative 1, which can be found here: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/real-estate/payette-lex/.
Some of the main questions were regarding:
- ensuring public access
- easements and trails around Payette Lake
- recreation on federal lands vs. endowment lands
- parcels IDL have identified
- timber production
Backcountry Caribou Hut for Lease
Pend Oreille Lake Supervisory Area has put together a unique RFP opportunity for the lease of a 5 acre endowment parcel in the Selkirk Mountains. It would be an opportunity for an individual or an organization to have their own private Idaho, complete with a hut and outhouse.
The location provides great access to backcountry skiing, snowmobiling, hunting and hiking near Caribou Lake, Keokee Mountain and Schweitzer. The RFP is now on the leasing website.
What also makes this unique is that Ryan Schulze, POL Endowment Leasing, put together a video to help promote this possible lease and RFP. The link to the video can be found at https://youtu.be/XOiAdTYhxdU.
 The backcountry hut on the 5 acres of endowment land to be leased.
 The backcountry privy on the 5 acres of endowment land to be leased.
One Team One Voice Webpage
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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