IDL asks for caution with outdoor fire use

August 27, 2016

Two-thirds of fires fought by the Idaho Department of Landsso far this year have been caused by people, not lightning. With fire season still in full swing and windy conditions presenting challenges for fighting wildfires across the state, IDL fire managers are asking the public to be extra cautious when working or playing in the outdoors so they do not accidentally start a wildfire. IDL fire managers also urge the public to promptly report any smoke or suspected wildfires to 9-1-1 immediately so that fires can be put out quickly. The main human causes of wildfires in IDL districts statewide so far this year include escaped campfires (even in areas under fire restrictions where campfires are restricted); field burns and debris burns that have escaped; farming and logging equipment failures; and car fires along roadways. Ten IDL fire districts and two timber protective associations provide wildfire protection on 6.3 million acres of mostly state- and privately-owned timberlands, mainly in north central and northern Idaho. A map showing the various agencies’ protection district boundaries is available here: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire/IDL-fire-protection.pdf. As of Thursday, IDL fire managers have fought 130 fires that have burned 631 acres. Eighty-seven of the 130 fires have been human-caused. Human-caused fires on IDL districts usually make up about half of the total fires on IDL districts in a year, but with fewer lightning-caused fires this year the portion of human-caused fires among total fire occurrences is greater. The two most active State fire districts so far this year have been the Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association district based in Orofino, with 27 fires that have burned 27 acres, and the IDL Maggie Creek Forest Protective District based in Kamiah, with 16 fires that have burned 498 acres. As of Wednesday, approximately 245,500 acres have burned across Idaho so far this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. “We are still in the peak of fire season, and it is critical to use caution in the outdoors and prepare yourselves with the right equipment to respond if you do accidentally start a fire, or simply call 9-1-1 right away so firefighters can arrive quickly,” State Forester David Groeschl said.