2025 Idaho wildfires

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.

Background

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 28 May 29 Human-caused. Burned about 25 miles (40 km) south of Glenns Ferry. [11][12]
Ashlock Payette 1,289 May 29 May 29 Burned on Bureau of Land Management lands. Many fire agencies responded to the fire. [13][14]
Dunes Washington 1,060 June 3 June 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
90%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 59 miles (95 km) northeast of McCall. [20]
Rush Valley 7,908 July 10
90%
 Lightning-caused. Burning in Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness. [21]
Grassy Fremont 2,018 July 11 July 13 Undetermined cause. Burned 7 miles (11 km) north of Saint Anthony. [22]
Tindall Owyhee 1,697 July 15 July 16 Undetermined cause. Burning 14 miles (23 km) southwest of Mountain Home. [23]
Buckboard Oneida 1,698 July 15 July 18 Undetermined cause. Burned on BLM lands. [24][25]
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. [26]
Blackstone Owyhee 21,896 July 29 August 6 Lightning-caused. Burned 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Bruneau. [27]
Elkhorn Custer 1,356 July 29
0%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 45 miles (72 km) east of Challis. [28]
Lightning Creek Bonner 2,525 July 30
25%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 7 miles (11 km) east of Hope. [29]
Range Ada 26,922 July 31 August 2 Evacuations were ordered in South Pleasant Valley Road and West Thompson Road. [30]
Striker Owyhee 6,000 July 31 August 1 Lightning-caused. Burned northeast of Murphy. [31]
Island Creek Idaho 14,943 August 1
7%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 14 miles (23 km) north of Elk City. [32][33]
Rock Valley, Adams 2,796 August 13
97%
 Consists of several small lightning-caused wildfires in Boise National Forest. [34]
Box Owyhee 4,413 August 13 August 29 Lightning-caused. Burned 56 miles (90 km) southwest of Grandview. [35]
Sunset Bonner 3,183 August 13 September 2 Cause under investigation. Burned near Lake Pend Orielle and destroyed twenty structures, including six houses. [36][37]
Mire Clearwater, Idaho 1,388 August 13
70%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Lowell. [38]
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. [39]
East Idaho 2,210 August 20
50%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Powell. [40]
Rhoda Creek Idaho 2,502 August 20
0%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Lowell. [41]
Split Top Blaine 5,447 August 23 August 24 Human-caused. Burned 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Aberdeen. [42][43]
Walk Idaho 1,050 August 23
50%
 Lightning-caused. Burning 21 miles (34 km) east of Elk City. [44]
Ulm Creek Shoshone, Sanders (MT) 2,929 August 30
10%
 Lighting-caused. Burning 16 miles (26 km) north of Prichard. [45]
White Pine Latah 1,045 August 31
78%
 Unknown cause. Burning 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Harvard. Prompting evacuations and closed White Pine Campground. [46][47]


See also

Notes

  1. ^ Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Idaho Wildfire Emissions Estimates". www2.deq.idaho.gov. Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  2. ^ "Idaho Fire Season: In-Depth Guide". wfca.com. May 21, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  3. ^ "Abundant Lightning Brings New Wildfires to Northern Idaho". Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  4. ^ "Abundant Lightning Brings New Wildfires to Northern Idaho". Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  5. ^ "Wildfire Map Spotlight: Idaho–Montana Fires". IQAir. October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  6. ^ "Smoke and haze continue to affect air quality across Idaho". Idaho Smoke Information. September 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  7. ^ "Idaho wildfire potential remains high as hot temperatures continue". Idaho Capital Sun. July 15, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  8. ^ "Idaho wildfire outlook remains above normal through fall". National Interagency Fire Center. September 25, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  9. ^ https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/11/19/balance-of-idahos-state-wildfire-suppression-fund-drops-to-15-million-after-2025-season/
  10. ^ "What containment and other wildfire related terms mean". Los Angeles: KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  11. ^ "Twin Butte Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  12. ^ "Twin Butte - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.registerguard.com. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  13. ^ "Ashlock Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  14. ^ Tuttle, Zoe (May 30, 2025). "Idaho agencies work to quickly contain Ashlock Fire". KTVB. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  15. ^ "Dunes Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  16. ^ Christensen, Garrett (June 4, 2025). "Dunes Fire burning in Washington County Idaho near Farewell Bend 100% contained". elkhornmediagroup.com. Elkhorn Media Group. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  17. ^ "Garden Creek - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.petoskeynews.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  18. ^ "UPDATE: Evacuations lifted for fire on Fort Hall reservation". KPVI-DT. July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  19. ^ "Winter Camp - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.thegleaner.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  20. ^ "Big Bear - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.independentmail.com. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  21. ^ "Rush Fire Information". InciWeb. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  22. ^ "Grassy - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.freep.com. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  23. ^ "TINDALL - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.usatoday.com. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  24. ^ "Buckboard - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.shelbystar.com. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  25. ^ Feelright, Will (July 18, 2025). "Buckboard Fire fully contained near Idaho-Utah border". Cache Valley Daily. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  26. ^ "Grass fire on I-84 between Boise and Mountain Home spreads to over 1,000 acres". KBOI-TV. July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  27. ^ "Blackstone Fire". www.mapofire.com. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  28. ^ "Elkhorn - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.dailycommercial.com. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  29. ^ "Lightning Creek Fire". www.mapofire.com. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  30. ^ "Range Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  31. ^ Rodriguez, Richard; Armstrong, Zach (August 1, 2025). "Crews contain the 6,000-acre Striker Fire in Owyhee County". KTVB. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  32. ^ "Island Creek - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.savannahnow.com. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  33. ^ McNamara, Mazie (September 7, 2025). "Island Creek Fire burning 14,000+ acres north of Elk City". KHQ-TV. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  34. ^ "Rock Fire". www.mapofire.com. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  35. ^ "Box Fire Map". fires.cornea.is. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  36. ^ "Sunset - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.thedailyjournal.com. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  37. ^ Proctor, Cody (August 18, 2025). "Hundreds seek answers at Sunset Fire meeting in Sandpoint Monday night". KREM. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  38. ^ "Mire - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.the-daily-record.com. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  39. ^ "Hooker Creek Fire". www.mapofire.com. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  40. ^ "East Fire Map". fires.cornea.is. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  41. ^ "Rhoda Creek - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.statesmanjournal.com. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  42. ^ "Split Top - Wildfire and Smoke map". data.ydr.com. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  43. ^ "5,000 acre Split Top Fire near Aberdeen contained, cause still under investigation". KIFI-TV. August 25, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  44. ^ "Walk - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.usatoday.com. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  45. ^ "Ulm Creek - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.statesmanjournal.com. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  46. ^ "White Pine - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.oklahoman.com. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  47. ^ McNamara, Mazie; Rattner, Mark (September 2, 2025). "Latah County issues 'Go Now' orders as White Pine Fire threatens camps". KHQ-TV. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
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