2024 Idaho wildfires


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.

Background

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

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.
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. 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.
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. The season's fuel dynamics and high demand across fires created intense pressure on suppression resources.
Financially, the Idaho Department of Lands logged a massive expenditure—over $39 million on firefighting operations through the season—with a significant portion spent combating the Gwen and Texas fires. 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

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than, or produced significant structural damage or casualties.
NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRef
OTR 31Ada2,59511 6 202411 6 2024Caused by human activity.
OTR 47Ada2,12715 6 202415 6 2024Caused by human activity.
CoonskinTwin Falls, Owyhee13,07426 6 202422 7 2024Caused by lightning.
SoldierOwyhee5,31326 6 202430 6 2024Lightning-caused.
Billy CreekNez Perce3,1853 7 20247 8 2024Started along the Idaho/Washington state line.
SwanyAda1,1546 7 20249 7 2024
MM97 I-84Elmore6,3368 7 202412 7 2024
Bench LakeCuster2,59511 7 202422 8 2024Caused by human activity.
OTR 136Ada1,10612 7 202412 7 2024Caused by human activity.
MaryOwyhee6,23113 7 202415 7 2024Lightning-caused.
TexasLatah1,56515 7 2024Caused by human activity.
GwenLatah28,82024 7 20248 8 2024Caused by lightning. Firefighting efforts were complicated by dry, dead grass as fuel and steep slopes. 38 homes and 122 outbuildings were destroyed.
LimepointAdams & Latah33,08424 7 202422 9 2024
8 miles north of Oxbow Dam. Merged with Oxbow Fire.
ThunderLemhi2,47424 7 20248 8 2024Lightning-caused.
SugarOwyhee13,72724 7 202426 7 2024Lightning-caused.
TwentymileElmore4,14224 7 202425 7 2024Lightning-caused.
WapitiBoise & Custer129,06324 7 202431.10.2024Caused by lightning.
DoveElmore, Owyhee3,26024 7 202428 7 2024Lightning-caused.
Wolf CreekAdams & Valley1,15424 7 20244 9 2024
WyeIdaho13,13725 7 20244 11 2024Caused by lightning. Was unstaffed due to higher priority fires.
Ace ButteIdaho1,96225 7 202423.10.2024Lightning-caused.
AnchorIdaho1,89028 7 202423.10.2024Lightning-caused.
Cliff MountainAdams & Idaho1,10825 7 202420 8 2024
JumpOwyhee25,7415 8 20247 8 2024Lightning-caused.
BulldogBoise & Valley11,4235 8 202428.10.2024Lightning-caused.
DollarValley4,3605 8 202417.10.2024Lightning-caused.
FlatBoise3,7345 8 20242 9 2024Lightning-caused.
GoatValley36,7185 8 202428.10.2024Lightning-caused.
NellieBoise & Valley50,0735 8 202428.10.2024Lightning-caused. Merged with Anderson Fire on August 12.
PaddockGem, Payette, & Washington187,1855 8 202418 8 2024Lightning-caused.
SnagValley33,4375 8 202428.10.2024Lightning-caused.
FarrowIdaho3,6375 8 202424.10.2024Lightning-caused.
BasinElmore6,0945 8 20247 8 2024Lightning-caused.
Elkhorn RidgeIdaho3,1407 8 202431.10.2024
ParksIdaho5,99711 8 202431.10.2024Lightning-caused.
ProspectIdaho2,93712 8 202431.10.2024
BirchValley23,09417 8 202429.10.2024Lightning-caused.
Magic WaterTwin Falls2,36817 8 202418 8 2024Caused by human activity.
Square LakeIdaho5,24017 8 202424.10.2024Lightning-caused.
Burnt CreekValley2,66519 8 202411.10.2024Lightning-caused.
ReynoldsLemhi2,67122 8 202431.10.2024Lightning-caused.
Magruder RidgeIdaho3,77822 8 202431.10.2024
HalfwayIdaho1,50225 8 20244 11 2024Lightning-caused.
LavaGem97,5852 9 202425.10.2024Caused by lightning, merged with the Boulder Fire
SyrupElmore5,1292 9 20243 9 2024Lightning-caused.
MineralWashington15,3922 9 20248 9 2024Lightning-caused.
ChimneyElmore, Camas6,5222 9 202429.10.2024Lightning-caused.
BigflatWashington3,6622 9 20244 9 2024Lightning-caused.
GlendaleBlaine7,5462 9 20245 9 2024Lightning-caused.
CopperValley2,1292 9 202424.10.2024Lightning-caused.
Red RockLemhi79,2602 9 202429.10.2024Lightning-caused. Merged with the Black Eagle Fire on October 5.
BerryElmore, Gooding14,4122 9 20246 9 2024Lightning-caused.
CommissaryBonneville6,8854 9 20247 11 2024Lightning-caused.
South Selway ComplexIdaho1,9286 9 202424.10.2024Lightning-caused. Consisted of the Lonesome, Goat Creek, Doe, and Twin Butte 2 fires.
FrogCuster3,0207 9 20249 10 2024Lightning-caused.
TableOwyhee17,4978 9 202410 9 2024Lightning-caused.
LoganValley15,6729 9 202412.11.2024
GardenLemhi13,03611 9 202426.10.2024Lightning-caused.
NuggetIdaho1,00113 9 202430.10.2024Lightning-caused.
RosieOwyhee5,62830 9 202417.10.2024Caused by human activity.
ValleyAda9,9044 10 202423.10.2024
MartinBlaine1,1004 10 20245 10 2024