Imagine being startled awake by a loud pop of a power transformer followed by an eerie silence. A rise of choking panic set in as nostrils fill with smoke fumes and eyes catch sight of flames from a bedroom window. Unfortunately, this nightmare experience was a reality for many of us this year as Idaho’s hot and dry summer became the perfect breeding ground for one of its worst wildfire seasons yet.
With an above average number of fires and total acres burned during the 2024 fire season, wildfires affected many parts of Idaho. They cut especially close to home this year in Boise between the Plex Fire burning hundreds of acres of the historic Oregon Trail Reserve in September and the 9000+ acre fire that roared across the foothills a month later north of Warm Springs through Lucky Peak. Thankfully, those flames never reached most structures thanks to the relentless work of firefighters keeping citizens and structures safe from the flames.
Amongst wildfire activity in the Western United States that led to an especially early high level of preparedness, Samantha Storms, Division Chief, External Affairs at BLM Fire, National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) location right here in Boise, Idaho, shared that some of the “most significant burning this year occurred in rangeland fuels, notably in northern California and eastern Oregon, where human and lightning caused fires severely impacted rural communities and natural resources. Rangeland fuels, especially public lands managed by DOI, were a major driver in our fire year 2024 suppression effort. More recently, forested landscapes have come to dominate fire activity, causing among other effects severe smoke impacts across the West.”
Samantha Storms reminds us that beating these fires takes a village. “No one agency can do it alone, which is why the federal and state agencies, many based here at NIFC, serve as the logistical and support center for the nation’s wildland fires and, at times, other national disasters and emergencies. Firefighters from the BLM Boise District, in partnership with the Idaho Department of Lands and Boise City Fire Department, responded to a number of fires in or near the Boise city limits in 2024. Community appreciation for these brave men and women does not go unnoticed.”
Samantha adds that part of the success in fighting these devastating fires come from advocates at the Department of the Interior level and beyond that fight to provide support for the hardworking wildland fire personnel. These advocates understand the challenges and successes of wildland firefighting and they influence policies that support our ongoing efforts and underscores the importance of the work we do.
While advocates fight behind the scenes, the rest of the community should continue to rally together to show gratitude and provide recognition to those who are on the front lines, risking their lives against nature, along with those who are working hard to organize and manage this monumental task. It’s also important to note the vital role Idaho residents can play in helping to prevent wildfires, nearly half of which from this year alone, in Idaho, were either suspected or confirmed to be human caused. Remember to avoid any activities that involve fire or sparks when it's hot, dry, and windy, including parking on dry grass! In the meantime, there’s hope that spring will bring new life and vegetation as wildfires provide a chance for rebirth and also an abundance of morel mushrooms, if we’re lucky!