On Friday, July 9, Governor Little announced an emergency declaration for wildfires, and mobilized Idaho National Guard to fight several fires in northern Idaho. 

The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) requested of the governor to declare a wildfire emergency. Normally, individual counties will request that the governor declare this type of emergency, but with dry conditions the IDL stepped in to request on behalf of Idaho counties. The emergency declaration allows members of the Idaho National Guard with firefighter training to assist in fighting wildfires across Idaho. IDL members with fire line qualifications are also being sent to aid local firefighters who are overwhelmed with the amount of dry lightning fires that started over the last couple weeks in Idaho. 

Governor Little said, “Wildfire is presenting an imminent threat to life, property, and the environment, and we need all hands on deck. I appreciate our firefighters and fire managers for working so hard under such challenging conditions, and I am grateful that our guardsmen are able to step in once again to support Idaho communities.”

Little also announced in a press release that fire restrictions would be updated on a county basis. Fire Restrictions are forthcoming for Idaho communities to prevent human-caused wildfires. These restrictions are separated into Stage 1 and Stage 2 fire restrictions. Restrictions will be placed on a local level. Parts of Idaho have already started entering Stage 1 and Stage 2 restrictions. According to the Idaho Fire division in the Bureau of Land Management, all Sawtooth National Forest Lands and the South Central Idaho Fire Restriction Area are in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Areas that are in Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are the Coeur d'Alene Fire Restriction area zones. The Grangeville Fire Restriction Area will enter Stage 2 on July 16. 

Wildfires across the west coast, in northern Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and California, left Oneida County with smoky skies this past weekend. The haze settled in on Friday, July 9, with wind blowing smoke in from the many fires ablaze within 1000 miles of the county. 

The closest fire started on Friday in Fort Hall, Idaho. It burnt down two houses, and a firefighter had to receive treatment for heat exhaustion. The fire burned 15 acres of land before it was contained. Some residents were required to evacuate due to the fire danger. Fort Hall Fire said in a Facebook post that the cause of the fire is still being investigated. 

“Fire resources are spread thin and there is the threat of additional lightning storms throughout the week across the state,” the IDL said in a press release. “With drought conditions and High to Extremely High Fire conditions throughout the state, the public is reminded to take every precaution to prevent wildfires.”