Idaho Department Of Lands

Idaho has racked up nearly $40 million in debt fighting wildfires on its public lands this summer as the season starts to wind down.

A coalition of land trusts, property owners and outdoor enthusiasts is throwing its support behind a proposed land swap around Payette Lake.

Valley County Commissioners got an early preview Monday morning of a proposal to swap nearly 16,000 acres of state endowment land around Payette Lake with the U.S. Forest Service.

Owners of around 67,000 parcels in Idaho forestlands could soon have to pay more for state fire prevention services in the coming years.

Despite public land making up about 63% of Idaho, it will not be affected by the latest Trump administration attempt to rollback regulations related to roads and logging on forest service acreage.

A wildfire burning east of Kendrick, Idaho, has prompted evacuations across Nez Perce and Latah Counties.

The Billy Creek Fire, located south of Lewiston, has burned more than 3,000 acres since Wednesday.

The total number of fires that the Idaho Department of Lands responded to this year was close to normal, but the blazes didn't burn a lot of acres.

Forecasters warned Tuesday that as temperatures climb in July, the increased plant growth could mean more fuel ready to burn.

Twelve hundred acres of land around Payette Lake have been leased for recreational purposes by Valley County through 2024, in partnership with advocacy group United Payette.