Boise, ID – Over the past 24 hours Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) became aware of significant fire weather potential migrating towards Idaho from the west over the next three to four days. The significant weather was largely absent from forecasts until yesterday (9/1).

Red flag warnings are in effect for eastern Washington and northern Idaho: https://www.weather.gov/otx/. A fire weather watch is in place for most of the central Idaho area.

Also important to note is the Hot, Dry, Windy Index showing significant burning conditions over the next several days.

The following conditions are predicted: high temps, very unstable atmosphere, and windy (but not extreme wind events). These conditions cover the entire Northwest, including Idaho. We have been expecting the hot and dry conditions to persist, but this new development adds unstable atmosphere as a major concern.  This could mean high-base thunder cells forming when thunderstorms are not forecast.

We are also seeing new fire starts and existing fires picking up activity and aggressively burning over the past 24 hours.

This Labor Day weekend, we encourage people more than ever to exercise caution and recreate in a fire-safe way.

Learn More:

• Learn how you can help protect the lands we love from fire by recreating responsibly
• Follow these fire prevention tips
• InciWeb the Nationwide Incident Information System - typically lists IMT managed fires greater than 300 acres
• IDL’s Idaho Fire Map – displays all wildfires in Idaho