2024 Idaho wildfires

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2024 Idaho wildfires
0813 NellieFire Smoke.jpg
View of smoke from the Nellie Fire on August 13, 2024.
Season
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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.

Contents

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]

Background

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.

NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment date [a] NotesRef
OTR 31 Ada 2,595June 11June 11Caused by human activity. [10]
OTR 47 Ada 2,127June 15June 15Caused by human activity. [10]
Coonskin Twin Falls, Owyhee 13,074June 26July 22Caused by lightning. [10]
Soldier Owyhee 5,313June 26June 30Lightning-caused. [10]
Billy Creek Nez Perce 3,185July 3August 7Started along the Idaho/Washington state line. [11]
Swany Ada 1,154July 6July 9 [10]
MM97 I-84 Elmore 6,336July 8July 12 [10]
Bench Lake Custer 2,595July 11August 22Caused by human activity. [12]
OTR 136 Ada 1,106July 12July 12Caused by human activity. [10]
Mary Owyhee 6,231July 13July 15Lightning-caused. [13]
Texas Latah 1,565July 15AugustCaused by human activity. [14]
Gwen Latah 28,820July 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 & Latah 33,084July 24September 22

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

 [17]
Thunder Lemhi 2,474July 24August 8Lightning-caused. [18]
Sugar Owyhee 13,727July 24July 26Lightning-caused. [19]
Twentymile Elmore 4,142July 24July 25Lightning-caused. [20]
Wapiti Boise & Custer 129,063July 24October 31Caused by lightning. [6]
Dove Elmore, Owyhee 3,260July 24July 28Lightning-caused. [21]
Wolf Creek Adams & Valley 1,154July 24September 4 [22]
Wye Idaho 13,137July 25November 4Caused by lightning. Was unstaffed due to higher priority fires. [23]
Ace Butte Idaho 1,962July 25October 23Lightning-caused. [24]
Anchor Idaho 1,890July 28October 23Lightning-caused. [25]
Cliff Mountain Adams & Idaho 1,108July 25August 20 [26]
Jump Owyhee 25,741August 5August 7Lightning-caused. [27]
Bulldog Boise & Valley 11,423August 5October 28Lightning-caused. [28]
Dollar Valley 4,360August 5October 17Lightning-caused. [29]
Flat Boise 3,734August 5September 2Lightning-caused. [30]
Goat Valley 36,718August 5October 28Lightning-caused. [31]
Nellie Boise & Valley 50,073August 5October 28Lightning-caused. Merged with Anderson Fire on August 12. [28]
Paddock Gem, Payette, & Washington 187,185August 5August 18Lightning-caused. [5]
Snag Valley 33,437August 5October 28Lightning-caused. [32]
Farrow Idaho 3,637August 5October 24Lightning-caused. [33]
Basin Elmore 6,094August 5August 7Lightning-caused. [34]
Elkhorn Ridge Idaho 3,140August 7October 31 [35]
Parks Idaho 5,997August 11October 31Lightning-caused. [36]
Prospect Idaho 2,937August 12October 31 [37]
Birch Valley 23,094August 17October 29Lightning-caused. [38]
Magic Water Twin Falls 2,368August 17August 18Caused by human activity. [39]
Square Lake Idaho 5,240August 17October 24Lightning-caused. [40]
Burnt Creek Valley 2,665August 19October 11Lightning-caused. [41]
Reynolds Lemhi 2,671August 22October 31Lightning-caused. [42]
Magruder Ridge Idaho 3,778August 22October 31 [43]
Halfway Idaho 1,502August 25November 4Lightning-caused. [44]
Lava Gem 97,585September 2October 25Caused by lightning, merged with the Boulder Fire [45]
Syrup Elmore 5,129September 2September 3Lightning-caused. [46]
Mineral Washington 15,392September 2September 8Lightning-caused. [47]
Chimney Elmore, Camas 6,522September 2October 29Lightning-caused. [48]
Bigflat Washington 3,662September 2September 4Lightning-caused. [49]
Glendale Blaine 7,546September 2September 5Lightning-caused. [50]
Copper Valley 2,129September 2October 24Lightning-caused. [51]
Red Rock Lemhi 79,260September 2October 29Lightning-caused. Merged with the Black Eagle Fire on October 5. [52]
Berry Elmore, Gooding 14,412September 2September 6Lightning-caused. [53]
Commissary Bonneville 6,885September 4November 7Lightning-caused. [54]
South Selway Complex Idaho 1,928September 6October 24Lightning-caused. Consisted of the Lonesome, Goat Creek, Doe, and Twin Butte 2 fires. [55]
Frog Custer 3,020September 7October 9Lightning-caused. [56]
Table Owyhee 17,497September 8September 10Lightning-caused. [57]
Logan Valley 15,672September 9November 12 [58]
Garden Lemhi 13,036September 11October 26Lightning-caused. [59]
Nugget Idaho 1,001September 13October 30Lightning-caused. [60]
Rosie Owyhee 5,628September 30October 17Caused by human activity. [61]
Valley Ada 9,904October 4October 23 [62]
Martin Blaine 1,100October 4October 5 [63]
2024 Idaho wildfires
Perimeters of 2024 Idaho wildfires (map data)

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. [9]

References

  1. ↑ Blenkinsop, Sofia (June 7, 2024). "National Interagency Fire Center predicts high risk wildfire season in Idaho". Boise State Public Radio News. NPR News. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Idaho Wildfire Emissions Estimates". www2.deq.idaho.gov. Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Idaho Fire Season: In-Depth Guide". wfca.com. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Climate change fuels Idaho's boomin' 2024 fire season". Idaho Conservation League. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Paddock Fire". InciWeb. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Wapiti Fire". InciWeb. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Idaho Department of Lands spent over $39 million fighting fires". KREM-TV. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Idaho Department of Lands meet to discuss costs of wildfires". KMVT. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  9. ↑ "What containment and other wildfire related terms mean". Los Angeles: KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "WFIGS 2024 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Billy Creek Fire". InciWeb. August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Bench Lake Fire". InciWeb. August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Mary Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Texas Fire". Inciweb. August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Gwen Fire". InciWeb. August 3, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Gwen Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Limepoint". InciWeb. August 16, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Thunder Fire". InciWeb. August 1, 2024. Archived from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Sugar Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Twentymile Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Dove Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Wolf Creek Fire". InciWeb. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Wye Fire". InciWeb. August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Ace Butte Fire". Watch Duty. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Anchor Fire". Watch Duty. September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Cliff Mountain Fire". InciWeb. August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Jump Fire". Watch Duty. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  28. 1 2 "Middle Fork Complex Fire". InciWeb. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Dollar Fire". InciWeb. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Flat Fire". Watch Duty. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Goat Fire". InciWeb. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Snag Fire". InciWeb. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Farrow Fire". Watch Duty. September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Basin Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  35. ↑ "Elkhorn Ridge Fire". Watch Duty. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  36. ↑ "Parks Fire". Watch Duty. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Prospect Fire". Watch Duty. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Birch Fire". Watch Duty. August 17, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  39. ↑ "Magic Water Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Square Lake Fire". Watch Duty. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  41. ↑ "Burnt Creek Fire". Watch Duty. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  42. ↑ "Reynolds Fire". Watch Duty. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  43. ↑ "Magruder Ridge Fire". Watch Duty. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Halfway Fire". Watch Duty. September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Lava Fire". Watch Duty. September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  46. ↑ "Syrup Fire". Watch Duty. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  47. ↑ "Mineral Fire". Watch Duty. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  48. ↑ "Chimney Fire". Watch Duty. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  49. ↑ "Bigflat Fire". Watch Duty. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  50. ↑ "Glendale Fire". Watch Duty. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  51. ↑ "Copper Fire". Watch Duty. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  52. ↑ "Red Rock Fire". Watch Duty. August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  53. ↑ "Berry Fire". Watch Duty. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  54. ↑ "Commissary Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  55. ↑ "Idncf South Selway Complex". Inciweb. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  56. ↑ "Frog Fire". Watch Duty. September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  57. ↑ "Table Fire". Watch Duty. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  58. ↑ "Logan Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  59. ↑ "Garden Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  60. ↑ "Nugget Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  61. ↑ "Rosie Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  62. ↑ "Valley Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  63. ↑ "Martin Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
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