‘No agency can do this alone’: Idaho officials address goals to mitigate wildfires

Idaho Gov. Brad Little offers recommendations state agencies and other federal and local stakeholders must take to mitigate wildfires at the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise on Aug. 23, 2024. (Mia Maldonado/Idaho Capital Sun)

State officials on Friday unveiled a new report, including new ideas for possible legislation, outlining 10 recommendations on how to reduce the impact of wildfires.

In front of a crowd of firefighters at the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho Gov. Brad Little began the press conference discussing recommendations to state officials on what steps to take to reduce the impact of wildfires.

Some recommendations include:

• adopting legislation for wildfire liability standards for electric utilities
• developing a statewide mobile notification and evacuation plan
• coordinating wildfire detection cameras
• expanding Idaho’s fire information website that interacts with those detection cameras

The full list of recommendations outlined in the report can be found online .

The recommendations call on Idaho officials and the state’s congressional delegation to work with federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service to address permitting and liability issues associated with environmental impact statements and environmental assessments, which can be required for certain projects in the nation’s forests. State officials have argued for years that the requirements can slow down projects that would allow agencies to remove dry fuels and vegetation, which can cause larger, more catastrophic fires, through prescribed burns.

The recommendations also call for the state working with local government agencies to better communicate when residents should be ready to evacuate in the event of a fire.

“The notification tool should be mobile and be capable to receive notifications in areas with cellular coverage and in areas without,” the report states. “Evacuation plans should be developed and housed at each county’s emergency management office, and should address supporting individuals with access and functional needs. GIS solutions should be identified to quickly map evacuation areas and to identify values at risk within evacuation areas and to assist with communication of risk and recommended actions.”

The Idaho Department of Lands and the Idaho Office of Emergency Management have also been directed, under the recommendations, to reach out to and work with local fire authorities to develop a memorandum of understanding to better coordinate fire and mutual aid responses.

Idaho governor, lieutenant governor hosted 2023 wildfire roundtable that led to recommendations

The report is based on a wildfire roundtable Little and Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke hosted in 2023 to discuss liability reform for utilities and insurers, wildfire mitigation strategies and statewide communication.

Idaho Department of Lands director Dustin Miller said firefighters are a critical resource the state relies on each year, and said his department is working on attracting people into firefighting jobs.

“Idaho’s population is growing, and that growth puts more homes and lives in harm’s way,” Miller said. “Folks are building on the bottom of our forest and range lands within the wild and urban interface. Those are the places that we need to send our men and women into.”

Miller said collaboration between federal, state and local agencies, private landowners and tribal governments is essential to mitigating Idaho wildfires.

“No agency can do this alone,” Miller said. “Addressing wildfire risk in Idaho requires a multi faceted approach, managing growth, reducing fuels, fostering strong partnerships, maintaining infrastructure and utilizing advanced technology to detect wildfires early. Together, these strategies will help protect our communities, our natural resources and other values at risk from the growing threats of wildfires in Idaho.”

Other speakers included Idaho Department of Insurance director Dean Cameron, Idaho Office of Emergency Management director Brad Richy, and Boise Fire Chief Mark Niemeyer.

Idaho Capital Sun editor-in-chief Christina Lords contributed to this report.

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