2025 Idaho wildfires

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2025 Idaho wildfires
Firing operations at Taylor Ranch on the Rush Fire in July 17, 2025.
← 2024

The 2025 Idaho wildfires were a series of wildfires that burned throughout the U.S. state of Idaho.

Idaho Drought Monitor on August 19, 2025

While the "fire season" in Idaho varies every year based on fire weather conditions, most wildfires occur from June to September.[1] 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.[2]

Summary

By early summer, Idaho’s 2025 wildfire season was already active, driven by dry fuels, low moisture levels, and abundant lightning storms. Several fires ignited across the state before July, especially in forested and mountainous regions.

Lightning storms in late August burned across northern Idaho. In the Coeur d’Alene zone alone, around 29 wildfires were started by lightning between August 29–30; most were controlled, though a few escaped initial attack lines. [3] Among them, the Ulm Creek Fire (on the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District) had grown from ~100 to ~400 acres under a Type-3 incident organization. [4]

By late summer and early fall, several large fires had burned tens of thousands of acres across multiple counties. Smoke from these fires degraded air quality across many parts of the state, especially in central and northern Idaho.[5][6] Fire crews faced supply constraints, rugged terrain, and the challenge of widely scattered fires stretching over remote landscapes.[7]

Officials noted additional ignitions and fire growth were likely through October, especially with dry fuels and late-season lightning possibilities.[8] In mid November, the Idaho Department of Lands Director reported the state's expenses for the 2025 wildfire season netted about $40.6 million. This marked a steep reduction from the 2024 Idaho wildfire season, where state wildfire expenses were estimated around $58 million.[9]

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
Twin Butte Owyhee 2,600 May 28May 29 Human-caused. Burned about 25 miles (40 km) south of Glenns Ferry.[11][12]
Ashlock Payette 1,289 May 29May 29 Burned on Bureau of Land Management lands. Many fire agencies responded to the fire.[13][14]
Dunes Washington 1,060 June 3June 4 Burned about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) away from Huntington, Oregon.[15][16]
Garden Creek Bingham 5,418 July 1 July 3 Cause under investigation, but likely human-caused. Evacuations issued by tribal leaders near Fort Hall. [17][18]
Winter Camp Owyhee 2,000 July 1 July 1 Unknown cause. Burned on Idaho Department of Lands area. [19]
Big Bear Idaho 16,220 July 9 September 29 Lightning-caused. Burned 59 miles (95 km) northeast of McCall. [20][21]
Rush Valley 7,908 July 10 September 29 Lightning-caused. Burned in Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness. [22][23]
Grassy Fremont 2,018 July 11 July 13 Undetermined cause. Burned 7 miles (11 km) north of Saint Anthony. [24]
Tindall Owyhee 1,697 July 15 July 16 Undetermined cause. Burning 14 miles (23 km) southwest of Mountain Home. [25]
Buckboard Oneida 1,698 July 15 July 18 Undetermined cause. Burned on BLM lands. [26][27]
Mm 64 I84 Ada 8,902 July 19 July 20 Affected Interstate 84. Evacuations were "recommended" for nearby residents. Destroyed one outbuilding. Burned 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Boise. [28]
Blackstone Owyhee 21,896 July 29 August 6 Lightning-caused. Burned 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Bruneau. [29]
Elkhorn Custer 1,356 July 29 September 11 Lightning-caused. Burning 45 miles (72 km) east of Challis. [30]
Lightning Creek Bonner 2,525 July 30 Lightning-caused. Burned 7 miles (11 km) east of Hope. [31]
Range Ada 26,922 July 31 August 2 Evacuations were ordered in South Pleasant Valley Road and West Thompson Road. [32]
Striker Owyhee 6,000 July 31 August 1 Lightning-caused. Burned northeast of Murphy. [33]
Island Creek Idaho 14,943 August 1 October 7 Lightning-caused. Burned 14 miles (23 km) north of Elk City. [34][35][36]
Rock Valley, Adams 2,796 August 13 October 9 Consisted of several small lightning-caused wildfires in Boise National Forest. [37]
Box Owyhee 4,413 August 13 August 29 Lightning-caused. Burned 56 miles (90 km) southwest of Grandview. [38]
Sunset Bonner 3,183 August 13 September 2 Cause under investigation. Burned near Lake Pend Orielle and destroyed twenty structures, including six houses. [39][40]
Mire Clearwater, Idaho 1,388 August 13 September 21 Lightning-caused. Burned 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Lowell. [41]
Hooker Creek Malheur (OR), Owyhee 2,280 August 16 August 18 Unknown cause. Started in Oregon and burned 14 miles (23 km) east of Jordan Valley, Oregon. [42]
East Idaho 2,250 August 20 October 29 Lightning-caused. Burned 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Powell. [43]
Rhoda Creek Idaho 2,502 August 20 Lightning-caused. Burned 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Lowell. [44]
Split Top Blaine 5,447 August 23 August 24 Human-caused. Burned 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Aberdeen. [45][46]
Walk Idaho 1,050 August 23 October 30 Lightning-caused. Burned 21 miles (34 km) east of Elk City. [47][48]
Ulm Creek Shoshone, Sanders (MT) 2,929 August 30 December 10 Lighting-caused. Burned 16 miles (26 km) north of Prichard. [49][50]
White Pine Latah 1,045 August 31 November 19 Unknown cause. Burned 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Harvard. Prompted evacuations and closed White Pine Campground. [51][52][53]


Perimeters of 2025 Idaho wildfires (map data)

See also

Notes

References

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