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 (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. 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. NameCounty AcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRefOTR 31Ada2,595Caused by human activity. OTR 47Ada2,127Caused by human activity. CoonskinTwin Falls, Owyhee13,074Caused by lightning. SoldierOwyhee5,313Lightning-caused. Billy CreekNez Perce3,185Started along the Idaho/Washington state line. SwanyAda1,154 MM97 I-84Elmore6,336 Bench LakeCuster2,595Caused by human activity. OTR 136Ada1,106Caused by human activity. MaryOwyhee6,231Lightning-caused. TexasLatah1,565 Caused by human activity. Gwen Latah28,820 Caused by lightning. Firefighting efforts were complicated by dry, dead grass as fuel and steep slopes. 38 homes and 122 outbuildings were destroyed.LimepointAdams & Latah33,084 8 miles north of Oxbow Dam. Merged with Oxbow Fire.ThunderLemhi2,474Lightning-caused.SugarOwyhee13,727Lightning-caused. TwentymileElmore4,142Lightning-caused. Wapiti Boise & Custer129,063 Caused by lightning. DoveElmore, Owyhee3,260Lightning-caused. Wolf Creek Adams & Valley1,154 Wye Idaho13,137 Caused by lightning. Was unstaffed due to higher priority fires.Ace Butte Idaho1,962Lightning-caused. Anchor Idaho1,890Lightning-caused. Cliff Mountain Adams & Idaho1,108 Jump Owyhee25,741Lightning-caused. Bulldog Boise & Valley11,423Lightning-caused. Dollar Valley4,360Lightning-caused. Flat Boise3,734Lightning-caused. Goat Valley36,718Lightning-caused. Nellie Boise & Valley50,073 Lightning-caused. Merged with Anderson Fire on August 12.Paddock Gem, Payette, & Washington187,185Lightning-caused. Snag Valley33,437Lightning-caused. Farrow Idaho3,637Lightning-caused. BasinElmore6,094Lightning-caused. Elkhorn Ridge Idaho3,140 Parks Idaho5,997Lightning-caused. Prospect Idaho2,937 Birch Valley23,094Lightning-caused. Magic WaterTwin Falls2,368Caused by human activity. Square Lake Idaho5,240Lightning-caused. Burnt Creek Valley2,665Lightning-caused. Reynolds Lemhi2,671Lightning-caused. Magruder Ridge Idaho3,778 Halfway Idaho1,502Lightning-caused. Lava Gem97,585 Caused by lightning, merged with the Boulder FireSyrup Elmore5,129Lightning-caused. Mineral Washington15,392Lightning-caused. Chimney Elmore, Camas6,522Lightning-caused. Bigflat Washington3,662Lightning-caused. Glendale Blaine7,546Lightning-caused. Copper Valley2,129Lightning-caused. Red Rock Lemhi79,260Lightning-caused. Merged with the Black Eagle Fire on October 5. Berry Elmore, Gooding14,412Lightning-caused. Commissary Bonneville6,885Lightning-caused. South Selway Complex Idaho1,928Lightning-caused. Consisted of the Lonesome, Goat Creek, Doe, and Twin Butte 2 fires. Frog Custer3,020Lightning-caused. Table Owyhee17,497Lightning-caused. Logan Valley15,672 Garden Lemhi13,036Lightning-caused. Nugget Idaho1,001Lightning-caused. Rosie Owyhee5,628Caused by human activity. Valley Ada9,904Martin Blaine1,100
See also 2024 United States wildfires
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References