Wildfires 2026

Idaho officials have tallied up what they hope will be the final wildfire suppression costs for 2026, tacking on a few million dollars more to the state credit card.

Satellites like NOAA and NASA’s GOES constellation have been an important fire science tool for years. Over the summer, the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance launched the first three satellites of its FireSat program, and the first images taken by them were recently released.

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

There were early signs that this fire season could be a big one, especially the record-low snowpack last winter. In Teton County — near the Grand Targhee Resort — that spurred interest in a novel effort: raising money to help hire a local wildfire mitigation coordinator.

Most evacuees have been allowed to return to their homes near burn zones in Spokane, despite concerns about lingering toxins.

Officials say the fire, which has now burned more than 15,000 acres and is zero percent contained, was human caused. Nearly 90,000 people have been told to evacuate or prepare to leave.

There's a lot homeowners can do to prepare for wildfires, such as managing flammable plants and using fire-resistant building materials. But some states struggle to pass rules requiring those steps.

Friends and family are sharing what they’ll miss about Chris Andersen and Miles Elliott. Their deaths have also further shaken the wildland fire community, which has lost a number of firefighters during the intense and ongoing season.

Idaho and the Northwest are in the midst of an extreme wildfire season that is expected to remain active through the end of September. What are the effects of prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke on mental health?

It’s Friday, which means it's time for our Reporter Roundtable when Idaho Matters gets you up to date on all the news that made headlines this past week.