North, southwest Idaho face heightened wildfire risk due to drought and warming conditions

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Clark Corbin with Idaho Capital Sun says due to drought conditions in North Idaho and warmer-than-normal temperatures across the state, most of North Idaho and southwest Idaho are at elevated risk for wildfire through September.

Due to a cool, wet spring, most of Idaho experienced a slow start to the fire season without significant fires or acres burned.

Despite this, state officials have been urging caution for weeks, saying much of North Idaho experienced less snowpack and a rapid melt-off leading to prolonged drying and drought conditions.

"The late spring put North Idaho on a rapid drying trend with above-average temperatures and below normal (precipitation)," Miller told the land board Tuesday. "As you'll recall, many places in North Idaho saw below-normal snowpack this winter."

"Conditions have been better in the southern part of the state, with cooler and wetter-than-average conditions. However, the long-term weather forecast indicates a warmer-than-normal fire season," Miller added.

Through Thursday, almost 7,200 acres have burned in Idaho this year, including 5,905 acres of U.S. Bureau of Land Management land and another 316 acres of U.S. Forest Service land.

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