Where’s that smoke coming from? These maps show Idaho wildfire locations and status

If you live in Boise, you’ve probably noticed the first signs of wildfire smoke this week hanging over the Foothills and the rest of the Treasure Valley. It’s coming from a pair of active wildfires in eastern Oregon, but multiple other fires have also started popping up throughout Idaho.

But how can you find out precisely where the fires are?

Idaho has multiple online resources, including Fish and Game’s interactive fire map . The map shows wildfires in the Gem State, the location of previous fires, and the burnt acreage from 2024 wildfires. You can click on each fire icon to learn more about the date it started, how many acres have burned, and how much of the fire is contained.

The Environmental Protection Agency also runs an interactive fire and smoke map that provides a national view of all fires and smoke coverage.

The Department of Lands posts a detailed map on its website using information from the Integrated Reporting of Wildland-Fire Information . The map shows all active, controlled and inactive fires in Idaho.

The Department of Lands also maintains a fire news feed that frequently publishes updates and summaries on specific fires.

Which Idaho agencies issue wildfire alerts?

Idaho’s primary statewide source for wildfire alerts is the Department of Lands. The department issues wildfire alerts across Idaho’s 9 million acres of forests and rangelands but doesn’t issue evacuation notices. It’s up to the local sheriff’s office to order an evacuation.

The Department of Land’s Twitter and the #IDLFireInfo hashtag are good social media sources for the most recent and frequently updated information.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality also issues air quality advisories based on the amount of wildfire smoke in the air. The advisories note where outdoor burning and wood stove or fireplace burning are disallowed in each county.

The DEQ issued a yellow/moderate air quality advisory for Monday through Wednesday in the Treasure Valley, and all outdoor burning in Ada County is banned on Monday and Tuesday.

Idaho residents can sign up for emergency notification systems that alert residents of potential dangers like weather and wildfires. Here are the best options for the Boise area:

• CodeRED - Ada County and City of Boise alert system

• Alert Sense - Canyon County alert system

• Department of Lands alert system - Alerts for specific forest protective districts

How do you report a wildfire in Idaho?

If you spot a wildfire, don’t assume someone else has reported it. If no emergency crews are on the scene, play it safe and call it in. Idaho fires can be reported to 911 or the local sheriff’s office — for Ada County, the number is (208) 577-3460 . If you are on a highway, note the nearest exit or milepost marker.

Once you’ve spotted a wildfire and called emergency services, move as far away as possible from the source.

“If (the fire) is showing that it’s going to grow quickly, you definitely want to get away from it in case it starts growing,” Spencer Tangen, a fire weather forecaster with the National Weather Service in Boise, previously told the Idaho Statesman. “So if you’re near a fire, you have to be very careful about the direction it could be growing because you don’t want to get trapped by the fire.”

What causes wildfires to start?

According to the National Interagency Fire Center , there have been 24,541 wildfires across the U.S. since the start of 2024, burning a total of 3,065,455 acres. Both numbers are below the past 10-year average , according to NIFC, headquartered in Boise at the airport.

About 40% of fires are caused by lightning, which means humans cause the other 60%.

Tangen said human-caused wildfires are from some of the simplest things, such as an unattended bonfire or flicking a cigarette butt onto dry grass. He also warned about lesser-known causes, such as hot bullet casings falling on dry fuel and sparks from a chain dragged along a roadway.

Tangen said to check for red flag warnings before heading into the wilderness. A red flag warning is issued by the Weather Service and means conditions are ripe for wildfires to start and spread quickly, such as warm temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds.

“When we issue them for the dry and windy conditions, people need to be very careful about anything that could cause a spark in grasses or the forest,” Tangen said.