Idaho’s 2026 wildfire season is winding down after a punishing summer that included a gubernatorial disaster declaration, National Guard deployment, and a record-breaking cross-border fire. As of September 22, wildfire activity across the state is quiet, with incident personnel primarily focused on containment, mop-up, and post-fire suppression repair in central forests, according to a Wildfire Explorer situation update.
Upper Smith Fire: Idaho’s Lone Active Large Fire
The Upper Smith Fire, burning in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest approximately six miles west of Porthill near the Canadian border, remains Idaho’s only currently listed large fire according to NIFC. As of the latest report, the fire has burned 4,848 acres and is 41% contained.
The fire’s remote location in the far northern panhandle presents ongoing access challenges for ground crews, but cooler fall temperatures and increased humidity at higher elevations have helped slow fire behavior significantly from its peak. Crews are working to establish containment lines in rugged terrain before the season’s first significant winter weather arrives in the region, typically in October.
Contact information for the incident: (208) 557-8813.
A Season Defined by the Big Grass Fire
Idaho’s 2026 fire season was largely defined by the Big Grass Fire, which burned from its origins in southeastern Oregon into Owyhee County, Idaho—at its peak becoming part of Oregon’s largest wildfire ever at more than 578,000 combined acres. Governor Brad Little declared a fire disaster emergency for affected Idaho counties in late July and called up the Idaho National Guard to support the cross-border response. The Big Grass Fire is now substantially contained.
Fire Costs and Recovery
Idaho fire suppression expenses for 2026 have been closely watched by state budget officials. Reports from mid-September indicated that Idaho’s fire costs were remaining within projections as the season wound down—a relative relief given the overall national picture, which has seen suppression costs soar well above historical averages. The NIFC year-to-date total of more than 8.5 million acres burned nationally represents approximately 147% of the 10-year average, straining federal firefighting budgets.
Post-Fire Work and Restoration
With active suppression winding down, attention in Idaho is turning to post-fire recovery and rehabilitation. Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams have been assessing fire-impacted watersheds to identify erosion and flooding risks before fall rains. Areas burned at high severity in the Big Grass perimeter are being evaluated for emergency stabilization treatments including aerial seeding with native species to compete against invasive cheatgrass.
Residents in areas impacted by Idaho’s summer fires are encouraged to contact Idaho Office of Emergency Management for information on available disaster assistance programs. Ranchers and farmers affected by the Big Grass Fire may also be eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency emergency programs targeting livestock, fence, and infrastructure losses.