Forest managers are ordering heightened fire restrictions on public and private land in central and southwestern Idaho, a response to hot, dry conditions and very high wildfire danger.
Meanwhile, numerous fires continue to burn in Idaho, nearly all of them are in remote areas where no structures are threatened.
This time of year, stage 1 fire restrictions are normal. That’s according to David Olson with the Boise National Forest. He says putting restrictions on where people can burn reduces the possibility of human-caused blazes in forested areas.
And with much of Idaho in a drought, any reduction in possible fire starts is a help.
“We know that lighting will cause fires and we’ll have to deal with those," says Olson, "but if we could reduce or eliminate person-caused fires, that’s our goal for the rest of the summer.”
He says that in the Boise National Forest, about 300 fires each year aren’t put out all the way. Olson says fire restrictions are a way to balance recreation and fire management practices.
Beginning Thursday, stage 1 fire restrictions go into effect on the Boise, Payette and Sawtooth National Forests, as well as all private, state and Bureau of Land Management-protected territory within Ada, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Washington counties.
Also included in the restrictions are portions of Idaho, Adams, Valley, Custer, Elmore, Camas and Blaine counties.
That means most fires are prohibited except within designated recreation sites.
Smoking is also forbidden, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or designated recreation site.
