Current News Coverage
'Surrounded by a tinder box'
Idaho Mountain Express, 8-21-26
The Ohio Fire, which burned 2,035 acres of land in Blaine County, was caused by firearm shooting on land owned by the Idaho Department of Lands. Some area residents want to see changes that would prevent similar incidents in the future.
The fire started July 18 on an unofficial shooting range across from Hurtig Shooting Center on Ohio Gulch Road and caused multiple neighborhoods to evacuate. Numerous firefighting crews were deployed to battle the blaze from the ground, and air tankers and helicopters dropped fire retardant and water on the flames.
The IDL land on which the fire started is surrounded by a patchwork of private and U.S. Bureau of Land Management land in unincorporated Blaine County. Blaine County, the IDL and BLM all have different regulations for the discharge of firearms.
Read Mountain Express article
Experts explain fire danger ratings as Idaho heads deeper into fire season
KIVI, 8-19-26
As Idaho heads deeper into fire season, officials say the threat is far from over — and with some of the driest weeks of the year still ahead, much of the state remains under extreme fire danger.
But that rating is based on far more than just hot weather.
“There’s actually a lot of data and science that goes into the rating system and what causes us to go from one level of fire danger to the next level of fire danger,” said Bryan Durkin with the Idaho Department of Lands.
Read and watch KIVI article
Idaho endowment beneficiaries to receive record distribution
Boise Dev, 8-19-26
The Idaho Land Board announced Wednesday that it has approved $132.5 million to be distributed to endowment beneficiaries for fiscal year 2028, up 13% from the previous year.
The Land Board oversees the Endowment Fund Investment Board (EFIB) and the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL).
IDL manages about 2.5 million acres of endowment land across the state. That land is used to generate revenue for nine permanent endowment beneficiaries, including Idaho’s public schools. In FY 2028, Idaho Public Schools will receive $81,885,600 from that fund.
Read BoiseDev article
‘We’re pretty flush:’ Endowment payments climb for K-12, higher education
IDEDNEWS, 8-18-26
Public schools will receive a significant one-year boost in endowment payments — a $9.5 million increase.
Most state endowment beneficiaries, including public schools and higher education, are in line for increases exceeding 10%. Despite the robust increases, endowment payments still represent a relatively small piece of overall education spending.
Several factors played into the increased payments — including $156.3 million in presold timber cuts on state forest lands, and a 13.6% net return from the state’s endowment fund.
“It feels right now we’re pretty flush,” said Chris Anton, investment manager for the state’s Endowment Fund Investment Board.
Read IDEDNEWS article
Idaho faces nearly 700,000 burned acres and rising firefighting costs as season intensifies
US News, 8-19-26
BOISE — Idaho has seen nearly 700,000 acres burn so far this year, and state officials say the outlook for late summer remains worrying as conditions dry out across the state.
At a meeting of statewide officers on the Idaho Board of Land Commissioners, Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller said the agency has expended about $31 million on wildland suppression this season. The department currently maintains roughly $25 million in its suppression fund, but officials said it is unclear how those reserves will look once the season runs its course.
Read article
Idaho has spent $31 million on firefighting while nearly 700K acres have burned statewide
Idaho Capital Sun, 8-18-26
Nearly 700,000 acres have burned across Idaho so far this year, and state officials are predicting fire risk will remain high through September.
As the costs to fight fires increase, state agency staff said they plan to increase Idaho’s dedicated funding to boost firefighting resources amid tight budget conditions as staff prepare the budget request for next fiscal year.
The Idaho Department of Lands has about $25 million in its fire suppression fund, but it’s unclear where that will stand by the end of fire season, IDL Director Dustin Miller told statewide officers who sit on the Idaho Board of Land Commissioners Tuesday.
Read Capital Sun article
Endowment Beneficiaries to Receive Another Record High Distribution in Fiscal Year 2028
Big Country News, 8-19-26
BOISE- The Idaho Board of Land Commissioners (Land Board) approved a record distribution of $132.5 million to endowment beneficiaries in Fiscal Year 2028. This eclipses the prior year record of $117.3 million by 13%.
Land Board members include the Governor, State Controller, Secretary of State, Attorney General and Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The Endowment Fund Investment Board (EFIB) manages the endowment fund, which had a balance of $4.1 billion at the end of the fiscal year. Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) manages nearly 2.5 million acres of endowment land held in trust for the financial support of endowment beneficiaries. The Land Board oversees both the EFIB and IDL.
Read Big Country article
NIC receives $82,661 grant to restore trees lost in windstorms
Coeur d'Alene Press, 8-15-26
North Idaho College received an $82,661 grant from the Idaho Department of Lands Urban and Community Forestry Program to restore trees lost during recent windstorms and strengthen the college’s campus tree canopy.
The grant will fund the purchase of 74 trees and planting materials, professional planting services and labor costs for NIC employees involved in the project that will start this fall.
The restoration comes after the loss of 71 trees during two major wind events at the Coeur d’Alene campus. The storms Dec. 17, 2025, and March 12, 2026, destroyed 65 large Ponderosa pines and six other trees. The losses followed a Jan. 13, 2021, windstorm that destroyed 107 trees on campus.
Read CDA Press article
In a world of wildfires, logging can improve forest health
Hagadone News Network, 8-15-26
Smoke from Spokane wildfires temporarily cleared Tuesday, giving way to a bluebird morning. Greg Mason, surrounded by luscious mountains near Twin Lakes, maneuvered a giant hydraulic clamp to the base of a white fir.
Amid a symphony of grinding steel and a plume of kicked-up dust, Mason, who had been working since 3 a.m., used this tank-like piece of heavy forestry equipment called a feller buncher to rip the large evergreen conifer out of the earth like a toothpick.
...
About 150 wildfires have ignited in IDL’s coverage area in recent memory, according to IDL. Some 30 miles east, Spokane is still trying to recover after Washington state’s most destructive fires forced 64,000 people from their homes.
Read Hagadone article
Wildfire Coverage
Caribou Fire burning northwest of Naples in Boundary County
KREM2, 8-19-26
NAPLES, Idaho — According to the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), the Caribou Fire is burning in steep, rocky and forested terrain northwest of Naples in Boundary County on Wednesday evening.
IDL estimates the fire burned about 10 acres and it is 0% contained. No evacuations are in place as the fire does not threaten any structures.
There are approximately 90 personnel working this fire, about 20 more firefighters are expected to help by Thursday.
Read KREM article
Mile Marker 50 Fire
Clearwater Tribune, 8-19-26
The Mile Marker 50 Fire that shut down U.S. Highway 12 near Greer burned seven acres. The 7-acre fire had prompted temporary highway closures and single-lane pilot car operations after starting on Tuesday, August 11.
The fire was declared 100% contained on the night of Thursday, August 13, allowing U.S. Highway 12 to fully reopen by Friday, August 14.
Jonathan Luhnow , a fire information officer for the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), reported there were five engines from IDL’s Maggie Creek Supervisory Area and the Orofino-based Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association that fought the fire, along with two helicopters and two single-engine air tankers. At least one hand crew was dispatched.
IDL seeks help with Fernan Lake fire investigation
Coeur d'Alene Press, 8-18-26
Idaho Department of Lands investigators hope someone might have witnessed something that could assist in the investigation into the Potlatch Hill Fire on July 29 on the southwest end of Fernan Lake, east of Interstate 90 and north of East Potlatch Hill Road.
"If you were in the area between 6 to 7 p.m. and noticed anything unusual or out of place, we want to hear from you," a press release said. "This includes vehicles, people, or activities that seemed uncommon or out of place. We are also looking for photos, videos or security footage from the surrounding area."
Information can be shared with the Idaho Department of Lands at 208‑666‑8697 or at investigation@idl.idaho.gov.
Read CDA press article
Coeur d'Alene investigators ask for tips in Potlatch Hill fire
KHQ, 8-19-26
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho — The Idaho Department of Lands is asking for the public's help as investigators continue looking into the Potlatch Hill Fire in Coeur d'Alene.
The agency said the fire started July 29 on the southwest end of Fernan Lake, east of Highway 90 and north of E. Potlatch Hill Road.
Read KHQ article
Coeur d'Alene home destroyed in 'suspicious' fire
Coeur d'Alene Press, 8-15-26
A Coeur d'Alene home was destroyed in a fire early this morning, while an earlier, nearby fire was believed to be intentionally set.
This morning at about 3:40, Coeur d’Alene Fire Department personnel and Coeur d’Alene Police officers responded to a reported fire in an undeveloped wooded area in the 6500 block of N. Mineral Drive, west of Highway 95.
Responders located a fire covering an area of about 75 feet by 75 feet. Idaho Department of Lands Fire Investigators also responded to assist.
Read Coeur d'Alene Press article
|
