Fire danger prompts Stage 1 Fire Restrictions across North Central Idaho

KAMIAH - Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will be in effect for both the East and West Zones of the Grangeville Fire Restrictions Area until further notice.

Fire Restrictions apply to all lands managed or protected by the U.S. Forest Service, the Wildland Fire Service, the Idaho Department of Lands, the Nez Perce Tribe, and Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protection Association. State Fire Restrictions apply to all federal, state, state endowment, private forestlands, and rangelands within the designated area.

Moderate to severe drought conditions coupled with persistent high temperatures have raised the fire danger rating to very high and extreme across central Idaho. The National Preparedness Level is 5, meaning National resources are heavily committed, and active geographic areas must take emergency measures to sustain incident operations. These conditions have prompted Fire Restrictions to be implemented in accordance with the criteria established in the 2026 Idaho Fire Restrictions Plan for all lands in the Grangeville Fire Restrictions Area. To view the Idaho Fire Restrictions Plan, please visit https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/.

The overall intent of implementing Stage 1 Fire Restrictions is to communicate the increasing risk of wildland fires starting. Fire season has been underway across most of the Western United States for the last couple of months and firefighting resources can get stretched thin quickly this time of year. Awareness of fire danger and diligence with fire safety can help reduce the number of accidental human starts, which in turn is the best way that everyone can all help with the overall wildland fire effort.

With the high temperatures and persistent drought the region is experiencing, fire managers are asking the public to be extra cautious when spending time outdoors. As a reminder, fireworks are prohibited on state and private forestland and rangeland, and on public lands, roads, and trails in Idaho during closed fire season (May 10 through Oct. 20). Possession and/or use of fireworks is always prohibited on federal public lands.

Under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited until further notice:

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire except within a designated recreation site, or on their own land, and only within an owner-provided fire structure.
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

Stage 1 Exemptions: (An exemption does not absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempted activity.)

1. Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
2. Persons using a fire solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels. Such devices, including propane campfires, may be used only in an area cleared of flammable material.
3. Persons using stove fires with a chimney of at least five (5) feet in length and employing a spark arrester with a maximum mesh screen opening of 1/4 inch.