2024 Idaho wildfires

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2024 Idaho wildfires
View of smoke from the Nellie Fire on August 13, 2024.
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The 2024 Idaho wildfire season was a series of notable wildfires that burned throughout the U.S. state of Idaho during 2024.

Predictions made by the National Interagency Fire Center at the start of the season forecast an above-average potential for most of Idaho. This fire potential was partially due to the two previous winters being wet, leading to a large amount of extra brush and plants to grow.[1]

While the "fire season" in Idaho varies every year based on fire weather conditions, most wildfires occur from June to September.[2] Fire activities normally increase in July and August because of drier conditions, hotter temperatures, and more lightning strikes from thunderstorms. However, wildfire severity can vary every year based on preseason conditions such as snowpack and the overcrowded growth of vegetation and dying trees.[3]

Summary

By early October, Idaho experienced a notably intense wildfire season. The state saw nearly 826,000 acres burned by October 1, marking the highest total since 2012, primarily across the Boise and Payette National Forests where several fires burned explosively in September.[4]

One of the most destructive was the Paddock Fire, sparked by lightning and ultimately scorching approximately 187,000 acres across Gem, Payette, and Washington counties—qualifying it as one of Idaho's largest fires in the season.[5] Meanwhile, the Wapiti Fire, which began in late summer, devastated over 129,000 acres across Boise and Custer counties, becoming another major centerpiece of the season.[6]

Despite the immense acreage burned, Idaho saw relatively limited structural loss—a rarity in extreme fire years—though more than 50 homes were lost, including eight in the Wapiti Fire and four in the Gwen Fire near Kendrick.[4] The season's fuel dynamics and high demand across fires created intense pressure on suppression resources.

Financially, the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) logged a massive expenditure—over $39 million on firefighting operations through the season—with a significant portion spent combating the Gwen and Texas fires.[7] By late August, IDL estimated total fire suppression costs at $51.1 million, and net General Fund obligations after reimbursables amounted to approximately $45.8 million[8]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date[a] Notes Ref
OTR 31 Ada2,595June 11June 11Caused by human activity.[10]
OTR 47 Ada2,127June 15June 15Caused by human activity.[10]
Coonskin Twin Falls, Owyhee13,074June 26July 22Caused by lightning.[10]
Soldier Owyhee5,313June 26June 30Lightning-caused.[10]
Billy Creek Nez Perce3,185 July 3 August 7 Started along the Idaho/Washington state line. [11]
Swany Ada1,154July 6July 9[10]
MM97 I-84 Elmore6,336July 8July 12[10]
Bench Lake Custer 2,595 July 11 August 22 Caused by human activity. [12]
OTR 136 Ada1,106July 12July 12Caused by human activity.[10]
Mary Owyhee6,231July 13July 15Lightning-caused.[13]
Texas Latah1,565July 15AugustCaused by human activity.[14]
Gwen Latah28,820July 24August 8Caused by lightning. Firefighting efforts were complicated by dry, dead grass as fuel and steep slopes. 38 homes and 122 outbuildings were destroyed.[15][16]
Limepoint Adams & Latah33,084July 24September 22

8 miles north of Oxbow Dam. Merged with Oxbow Fire.

 [17]
Thunder Lemhi 2,474 July 24 August 8 Lightning-caused. [18]
Sugar Owyhee13,727July 24July 26Lightning-caused.[19]
Twentymile Elmore4,142July 24July 25Lightning-caused.[20]
Wapiti Boise & Custer129,063July 24October 31Caused by lightning.[6]
Dove Elmore, Owyhee3,260July 24July 28Lightning-caused.[21]
Wolf Creek Adams & Valley1,154July 24September 4[22]
Wye Idaho13,137July 25November 4Caused by lightning. Was unstaffed due to higher priority fires.[23]
Ace Butte Idaho1,962July 25October 23Lightning-caused.[24]
Anchor Idaho1,890July 28October 23Lightning-caused.[25]
Cliff Mountain Adams & Idaho1,108July 25August 20[26]
Jump Owyhee25,741August 5August 7Lightning-caused.[27]
Bulldog Boise & Valley11,423August 5October 28Lightning-caused.[28]
Dollar Valley4,360August 5October 17Lightning-caused.[29]
Flat Boise3,734August 5September 2Lightning-caused.[30]
Goat Valley36,718August 5October 28Lightning-caused.[31]
Nellie Boise & Valley50,073August 5October 28Lightning-caused. Merged with Anderson Fire on August 12.[28]
Paddock Gem, Payette, & Washington187,185August 5August 18Lightning-caused.[5]
Snag Valley33,437August 5October 28Lightning-caused.[32]
Farrow Idaho3,637August 5October 24Lightning-caused.[33]
Basin Elmore6,094August 5August 7Lightning-caused.[34]
Elkhorn Ridge Idaho3,140August 7October 31[35]
Parks Idaho5,997August 11October 31Lightning-caused.[36]
Prospect Idaho2,937August 12October 31[37]
Birch Valley23,094August 17October 29Lightning-caused.[38]
Magic Water Twin Falls2,368August 17August 18Caused by human activity.[39]
Square Lake Idaho5,240August 17October 24Lightning-caused.[40]
Burnt Creek Valley2,665August 19October 11Lightning-caused.[41]
Reynolds Lemhi2,671August 22October 31Lightning-caused.[42]
Magruder Ridge Idaho3,778August 22October 31[43]
Halfway Idaho1,502August 25November 4Lightning-caused.[44]
Lava Gem97,585September 2October 25Caused by lightning, merged with the Boulder Fire[45]
Syrup Elmore5,129September 2September 3Lightning-caused.[46]
Mineral Washington15,392September 2September 8Lightning-caused.[47]
Chimney Elmore, Camas6,522September 2October 29Lightning-caused.[48]
Bigflat Washington3,662September 2September 4Lightning-caused.[49]
Glendale Blaine7,546September 2September 5Lightning-caused.[50]
Copper Valley2,129September 2October 24Lightning-caused.[51]
Red Rock Lemhi79,260September 2October 29Lightning-caused. Merged with the Black Eagle Fire on October 5.[52]
Berry Elmore, Gooding14,412September 2September 6Lightning-caused.[53]
Commissary Bonneville6,885September 4November 7Lightning-caused.[54]
South Selway Complex Idaho1,928September 6October 24Lightning-caused. Consisted of the Lonesome, Goat Creek, Doe, and Twin Butte 2 fires.[55]
Frog Custer3,020September 7October 9Lightning-caused.[56]
Table Owyhee17,497September 8September 10Lightning-caused.[57]
Logan Valley15,672September 9November 12[58]
Garden Lemhi13,036September 11October 26Lightning-caused.[59]
Nugget Idaho1,001September 13October 30Lightning-caused.[60]
Rosie Owyhee5,628September 30October 17Caused by human activity.[61]
Valley Ada9,904October 4October 23[62]
Martin Blaine1,100October 4October 5[63]
Perimeters of 2024 Idaho wildfires (map data)

See also

Notes

References

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