Current News Coverage
Idaho Department of Lands seeks help with Saw Mill Fire investigation
KREM, 8-12-26
 Credit: Idaho Department of Lands
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) fire investigators would like to talk to a person who was photographed walking by the Saw Mill Fire shortly after it started on July 30. The hope is that she may have seen something that could assist investigators in determining how the fire started.
The Saw Mill Fire started in Coeur d’Alene west of Highway 90 between S. Backlog Lane and E. Mullin Trail Road.
If you recognize the person in the photo, or if you were in the area on July 30 between 4:40 – 5:30 p.m. and noticed anything unusual or out of place, IDL wants to hear from you. This includes vehicles, people or activities that seemed uncommon or out of place. IDL is also asking for photos, videos or security footage from the surrounding area.
IDL seeks help identifying woman
Bonner County Daily Bee, 8-12-26
COEUR d’ALENE — Idaho Department of Lands officials are asking for the public’s help identifying a woman photographed near the Saw Mill Fire, saying she may have information that could assist investigators in determining how the fire started.
The Saw Mill fire started July 30 in Coeur d’Alene, west of Highway 90 between South Backlog Lane and East Mullin Trail Road. It burned about a quarter acre before fire personnel put it out.
Anyone who recognizes the person in the photo, or who was in the area between 4:40 and 5:30 p.m. when the fire started, is asked to contact IDL at 208-666-8697 or investigation@idl.idaho.gov.
Read Bonner Co Bee article
Idaho Officials Seek Help Identifying Person Seen Near Wildfire
Kiss FM, 8-12-26
Wildfire season here in Idaho and in the greater Pacific Northwest is in full swing. Judging by the air that we have been breathing for the last several weeks, that should not come as a surprise.
As with any fire that breaks out, aside from containing these large outdoor blazes, there are folks that work to identify what exactly started them. Sometimes, it's something natural like a lightening strike but other times, there are humans involved: irresponsible firework usage or worse: arson.
Fire officials in North Idaho hope that you can help them identify a person that they hope, has some information.
Read KISS FM article
Strengthening Idaho's wildfire response through partnerships
Bonner County Daily Bee, 8-11-26
by JEFF ARMSTRONG / Contributing Writer
Idaho's local government fire districts face increasing demands while operating under significant financial constraints. Rising equipment costs, aging apparatus, inflation, increased training requirements, a declining volunteer force and limited revenues have left many districts struggling to maintain adequate staffing and replace critical equipment.
At the same time, Idaho continues to experience longer wildfire seasons, larger fires and greater threats to communities located within the wildland-urban interface. Participation in state and interstate wildland fire deployments has become an essential component of maintaining both financial sustainability and operational readiness for many Idaho fire districts.
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As Idaho's wildfire risk continues to grow, the Idaho Department of Lands and local government fire agencies will become increasingly interdependent. Fires occurring in and around Idaho communities require immediate local response to protect lives, homes, businesses and critical infrastructure. Local fire districts often provide the first response and, increasingly, continue as integral partners throughout extended incidents. We saw this play out in Bonner County during the Sunset and Sagebrush fires in 2025, where we also needed help from across the state of Idaho. A highly trained, well-equipped local fire service directly strengthens Idaho's overall wildfire response capability and complements IDL's mission. Any effort to limit or eliminate those deployments will, in essence, eliminate much-needed partnerships and drive fire districts to explore further reductions in service.
Read Op-Ed article
Sawtooth National Forest seeking public input for Wapiti Fire recovery project
KTVB, 8-10-26
BOISE, Idaho — The Sawtooth National Forest is accepting public input on the Wapiti Post-Fire Recovery Project through Aug. 12.
Officials say the project would address hazardous conditions created by the Wapiti Fire, reduce the risk of insect-related tree mortality and prepare burned areas along Idaho Highway 21 in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area for reforestation.
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The Forest Service is working with the Idaho Department of Lands through the Good Neighbor Authority program to replant burned areas, a partnership officials say is necessary given the scale of the damage.
"It is all one forest in Idaho at the end of the day," said Lauren Steininger, a forester with IDL.
Read KTVB SNF article
Little outlines state's efforts to help with Spokane wildfires
Coeur d'Alene Press, 8-8-26
Flanked by a collection of Smokey Bear pictures inside the Coeur d’Alene Interagency Fire Cache on Friday, Idaho Gov. Brad Little had one simple message for the state of Washington and its current battle with devastating wildfires:
“To our neighbors in Washington,” he said, “Idaho stands with you.”
Joined by Idaho Department of Lands firefighters, including U.S. Forest Chief Tom Schultz, Little spent a smoky-filled Friday afternoon in Coeur d’Alene giving a press conference about how the Gem State is helping quell the Spokane wildfires. The disaster, which has garnered international attention, has so far scorched more than 10,300 acres, destroyed over 900 structures, and wiped out entire neighborhoods.
Read CDA Press article
Idaho governor, Forest Service chief say significant wildfires are stretching resources thin
Idaho Capital Sun, 8-7-26
Idaho Gov. Brad Little and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said Friday that firefighting resources are stretched thin as significant wildfires burn across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and much of the Western United States.
As a result, both officials called on the public to redouble its efforts to prevent wildfires as hot, dry weather continues to create conditions that add to the threat.
“We have to recognize the reality of the conditions: we have an extremely dangerous fire season across the West,” Little said during Friday’s press conference, which was streamed live by the Idaho Department of Lands.
Read more on Idaho Capital Sun
Wildfire Coverage
Mile Marker 50 fire in mop-up
Lewiston Tribune, 8-14-26
Firefighters were mopping up the seven acre Mile Marker 50 Fire above U.S. Highway 12 near Greer Thursday evening but the east-west route remained restricted to a single lane of alternating traffic led by a pilot car.
Fire officials are urging motorists to use caution through the fire zone between mile markers 49 and 51. They anticipated the highway would open to normal travel soon and advised motorists to check 511.idaho.gov for the latest updates.
The fire started Wednesday afternoon and was hit hard with an air attack from helicopters and single-engine air tankers as well as engines and hand crews from the Idaho Department of Lands and the Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association. Firefighters used a small burnout operation overnight and reported little fire activity by Thursday morning.
Read Lewiston Tribune article
Heading north this weekend? Here’s an update on traveling State Highway 55
Idaho Statesman, 8-14-26
If you were hoping to escape to the mountains this weekend — you’re in luck. After a more than 300-acre wildfire just northeast of Banks temporarily shut down a portion of State Highway 55, the Idaho Transportation Department said Friday it reopened a single lane of the highway, using alternating traffic, flaggers and a pilot car.
Read Idaho Statesman article
Crews Extinguish Small Wildfire Near Harvard
Pullman Radio, 8-13-26
Crews extinguished a small wildfire in North Latah County on Wednesday afternoon.
Potlatch Volunteer Firefighters and Idaho Department of Lands crews were called to the fire on Maple Creek Road South of Harvard around 3:00. The fire burned about one and a half acres.
Read Pullman Radio article
UPDATE: Mile Marker 50 Fire Holds at 7 Acres Near Greer, Mop-Up Operations Begin
DailyFly, 8-13-26
Last updated: 9 a.m. Aug. 13
GREER, ID — The Mile Marker 50 Fire upriver from Orofino held at 7 acres overnight, while crews have made progress securing the fire and Highway 12 remains open to one-lane alternating traffic.
According to an 8:30 a.m. Thursday update from the Idaho Department of Lands, fire lines and hose lays are now in place around most of the fire.
One hand crew and five engines will remain on the fire Thursday to secure the perimeter and begin mop-up operations.
Read Dailyfly article
Banks fire closes Idaho 55 as containment timeline pushed back
Valley Lookout, 8-13-26
Idaho 55 was closed near Banks shortly after midnight on Thursday due to a wildfire burning along the highway, according to the Idaho Transportation Department.
There was no immediate timeline for the closure to be lifted as of Thursday morning. Barricades are placed just north of Banks and near Smiths Ferry.
“SH-55 will reopen once conditions allow us to safely reopen the highway to the traveling public,” said Anna McLean, an ITD spokesperson.
Read Idaho 55 article
IDL jumps on fire near Greer
Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 8-13-26
The Mile Marker 50 Fire that shut down U.S. Highway 12 near Greer had burned an estimated seven acres by about 7 p.m. Wednesday, but an Idaho Department of Lands spokesperson was optimistic firefighters would be able to corral the blaze.
Jonathan Luhnow, a fire information officer for the agency, said five engines from IDL’s Maggie Creek Supervisory Area and the Orofino-based Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association were working the fire along with two helicopters and two single-engine air tankers. At least one hand crew has been dispatched.
“We are trying to hit it with aircraft to check the spread, which seems like it’s working, to give enough time for the crews to get there and get it buttoned up,” he said. “Ideally, this will be a shorter duration type incident.”
Read Daily News article
Fire burning in Orofino shuts down Highway 12 in both directions
KREM, 8-12-26
OROFINO, Idaho — The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) says a fire burning in Orofino, Idaho, has caused Highway 12 to shut down in both directions.
According to a press release, the highway is shut down on the Clearwater River upstream from Orofino at mile marker 50.
IDL says the fire started at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, and it is currently 7 acres in size.
Read Orofino article
Fire burns 100 acres near Highway 55 north of Banks
KTVB, 8-12-26
BOISE, Idaho — An early-morning fire that sparked near State Highway 55 northeast of Banks on Wednesday has now burned around 100 acres, the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) announced.
Boise County Sheriff Scott Turner told KTVB that Garden Valley and Horseshoe Bend personnel responded to the fire around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12. The fire is located less than two miles northeast of Banks.
The blaze – dubbed the Mile Marker 81 Fire – is highly visible and impacting both Highway 55 and Highway 17, according to an IDL news release. No evacuations are in place as a result of the fire as of 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Read Highway 55 article
Crews combat new wildfire near Banks. Expect delays on State Highway 55
Idaho Statesman, 8-12-26
Officials warned that a wildfire along State Highway 55 could affect travel times north of Boise.
A new wildfire was reported at 3:55 a.m. about 2.5 miles north of Banks near milepost 81 along the highway and had grown to about 75 acres by 7 a.m., according to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service.
Fire crews were working along State Highway 55 and Banks Lowman Road toward Garden Valley to try to gain control, according to the Boise County Sheriff’s Office. The state Department of Lands and the U.S. Forest Service were both on scene.
Read Idaho Statesman
Wildfire near Banks prompts Idaho 55 lane closure
Valley Lookout, 8-12-26
UPDATE: This story was updated on Aug. 12 at 1:48 p.m. to include the latest containment information released by the Idaho Department of Lands
The Milepost 81 Fire near Banks is expected to be contained by noon Thursday, according to the Idaho Department of Lands.
Crews responded Wednesday to the new wildfire start reported near Idaho 55 about 1.5 miles northeast of Banks. Aerial suppression efforts have “largely halted” the fire from spreading further north and east, an IDL social media post said.
Read Valley Lookout article
100-acre wildfire burning off Highway 55 near milepost 81 in Boise County
KIVI, 8-12-26
BOISE COUNTY, Idaho — A wildfire burning on Highway 55, a mile and a half north of Banks, has burned through 100 acres, according to the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL).
IDL says the fire is impacting both Highway 55 and Highway 17, Banks-Lowman Road.
Highway 55 has been reduced to one lane with a pilot car to guide neighbors through the area, according to the Idaho Transportation Department.
A driver in the area also captured video of rockfall on Banks-Lowman Road.
Read KIVI article
Fire Danger Prompts Stage 1 Fire Restrictions across North Central Idaho
KOZE, 8-12-26
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will be in effect for both the East and West Zones of the Grangeville Fire Restrictions Area until further notice.
Fire Restrictions apply to all lands managed or protected by the U.S. Forest Service, the Wildland Fire Service, the Idaho Department of Lands, the Nez Perce Tribe, and Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protection Association. State Fire Restrictions apply to all federal, state, state endowment, private forestlands, and rangelands within the designated area.
Moderate to severe drought conditions coupled with persistent high temperatures have raised the fire danger rating to very high and extreme across central Idaho. The National Preparedness Level is 5, meaning National resources are heavily committed, and active geographic areas must take emergency measures to sustain incident operations. These conditions have prompted Fire Restrictions to be implemented in accordance with the criteria established in the 2026 Idaho Fire Restrictions Plan for all lands in the Grangeville Fire Restrictions Area. To view the Idaho Fire Restrictions Plan, please visit https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/
READ KOZE article
Fire Danger Prompts Stage 1 Fire Restrictions across North Central Idaho
Big Country News, 8-12-26
KAMIAH, Idaho - Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will be in effect for both the East and West Zones of the Grangeville Fire Restrictions Area until further notice.
Fire Restrictions apply to all lands managed or protected by the U.S. Forest Service, the Wildland Fire Service, the Idaho Department of Lands, the Nez Perce Tribe, and Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protection Association. State Fire Restrictions apply to all federal, state, state endowment, private forestlands, and rangelands within the designated area.
Moderate to severe drought conditions coupled with persistent high temperatures have raised the fire danger rating to very high and extreme across central Idaho. The National Preparedness Level is 5, meaning National resources are heavily committed, and active geographic areas must take emergency measures to sustain incident operations. These conditions have prompted Fire Restrictions to be implemented in accordance with the criteria established in the 2026 Idaho Fire Restrictions Plan for all lands in the Grangeville Fire Restrictions Area. To view the Idaho Fire Restrictions Plan, please visit https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/
Read Big Country News article
Fire restrictions increase across much of Idaho
Idaho Mountain Express, 8-12-26
State and federal agencies have increased fire restrictions across Idaho in response to risky conditions.
New restrictions apply to private land and state- and federally-managed land in Blaine County and other nearby counties and include a prohibition on campfires outside developed fire rings in most cases.
On Friday, the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Department of Lands implemented Stage 1 restrictions in the Central Idaho Fire Restrictions Area, which contains the land in Custer County north and east of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and non-federal land in Lemhi County.
Read Idaho Mountain Express article
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions now in effect on state and federal lands across Idaho
BoiseDev, 8-9-26
A single spark can start a wildfire, and with hot, dry conditions set to persist, the state of Idaho is now enforcing Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on state and federal lands.
If you’re planning to spend time outdoors, it’s important to know what’s allowed and what isn’t.
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The Idaho Department of Lands said these restrictions are designed to reduce the chances of a single spark starting a wildfire during peak fire season. Before heading out, check whether the area you plan to visit is under fire restrictions and follow all posted rules.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in Place
The Record Reporter, 8-12-26
Stage 1 fire restrictions are in place for all lands in southwest Idaho, including lands in our area, according to Idaho Department of Lands. This restriction applies to all Federal, State, and Tribal within the restriction area. This also applies to private property outside of city limits.
Level 1 fire restrictions include:
Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site, or on their own land, and only within an owner-provided fire structure.
Read Record article
Nearly 5,000 acres burned along Highway 20 in Elmore County as crews fight fire
KTVB, 8-9-26
ELMORE COUNTY, Idaho — A fire that sparked Friday afternoon near mile marker 115 on U.S. Highway 20 has burned an estimated 4,936 acres as of Sunday, Aug. 9, according to an update from USWFS officials. 146 fire personnel are currently assigned to the incident.
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U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) Great Basin Unit 1 – Boise, in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, BLM Boise District, and Mountain Home RFPA responded to the fire, an update from USWFS said.
Read more on KTVB
Firefighters Beat Back Ohio Gulch Fire as Fire Restrictions Start
Eye on Sun Valley, 8-7-26
Blaine County Fire and Rescue firefighters were called to a fire burning in construction debris at the Southern Idaho Solid Waste Ohio Gulch Transfer Station shortly after midnight Thursday, Aug. 6.
Firefighters were dispatched at 12:40 a.m. and able to keep it from spreading to surrounding vegetation. Transfer station personnel helped, using a bulldozer and excavator to spread and move burning debris, which allowed firefighters to access hotspots and extinguish the fire more effectively.
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The fire—one of at least five reported throughout the valley during the past week—came as Stage 1 Fire Restrictions were applied to all National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and Idaho State Lands as of 12:01 a.m. today—Friday, Aug. 7.
Read Eye on Sun Valley article
Firefighters gain ground overnight on 2,000-acre MM115 Highway 20 fire in Idaho
CBS2, 8-8-26
MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho (CBS2) — Firefighters working the MM115 HWY 20 Fire near Mile Marker 115 on Highway 20 made progress overnight and were reassessing conditions Saturday morning to plan the day’s operations, as the blaze continued to grow and challenge crews.
U.S. Wildland Fire Service Great Basin Unit 1 – Boise said it responded to the fire at approximately 2:59 p.m. Friday in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, BLM Boise District and Mountain Home RFPA.
Read CBS2 article
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