Idaho to face continued severe wildfire threat throughout rest of summer

BOISE — Around 19,500 acres have burned in Idaho so far this year, and state officials anticipate high wildfire potential to continue through the summer.

Fire Management Chief Josh Harvey provided a fire season update Tuesday morning to the State Board of Idaho Land Commissioners, telling them that June and July saw average temperatures well above normal and precipitation fell well below average.

The above-average fire potential outlook is expected to continue for the rest of July and into September, Harvey said. Southern Idaho has mostly faced the high fire potential, but this is anticipated to extend to North Idaho in August and September.

Most of the land that’s burned has been owned by the federal Bureau of Land Management, with 14,196 acres burning, according to meeting materials.

Harvey said that as of July 8, fire expenditures totaled around $14 million; however this didn’t include recent incidents. Last year, the state spent a total of $22 million on fire suppression, the Idaho Press reported.

A wildfire ignited near Kendrick on Monday evening that covers approximately 1,500 acres and has threatened between 50 and 60 homes, Harvey said. The blaze prompted an evacuation of the area in Latah County, the Lewiston Tribune reported.

“Because of this fire, we’ve brought on two more additional crews and we’re looking to bring on a couple more additional engines to help staff,” Harvey told the Land Board.

The Bench Lake Fire, burning near Stanley in the Sawtooth National Forest, doubled in size over the weekend, the Idaho Press previously reported . As of Tuesday, the blaze was 1,275 acres and 0% contained.

No fire restrictions were in place in the state on Tuesday, but the Sawtooth National Forest will implement fire restrictions on Wednesday morning and the Central Idaho zone will begin restricting fires on Friday, Harvey said.