Idaho state lands saw 227 wildfires in 2026, and the response cost more than $47 million.
Officials said people caused nearly all of those fires, according to Boise State Public Radio.
Here's what to know
Idaho's 2026 wildfire suppression total has risen above $47 million.
The amount covers 227 fires on state lands and, unless additional blazes add to it, could be the year's final tally.
Federal and other agencies are expected to reimburse roughly $20 million of that amount.
Even with that help, Idaho is still projected to be responsible for about $27.5 million after a season in which officials said almost every fire was started by people. About 10,400 acres of state endowment land burned in 2026.
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That made it the second-worst fire season on those lands in the past four years.
More background
Personnel made up one of the biggest line items on the bill, accounting for about $13 million.
The season's costs extended well beyond the direct work of battling flames on the ground.
Part of that personnel spending went toward stationing firefighting crews in strategic locations across the state.
Aerial firefighting services added another $4.9 million to the total. Using aircraft to slow the spread of fires was one of the costly parts of managing such an intense season.
Idaho remains extremely dry, and the financial and environmental effects of wildfire season can continue after the peak summer heat is gone.
Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller said sorting through the full costs takes time.
"Getting the cost estimates in and all the different components of what went into suppressing these fires — all those details it takes some time to process," Miller explained, per Boise State Public Radio.
What can be done?
One of Idaho's 2026 strategies was to place firefighting crews in key areas ahead of need, an approach that also carried a high price.
Because nearly all 227 wildfires on state lands were human-caused, reducing fires started by people in the backcountry could go a long way toward lowering the next suppression bill.
Where can I learn more?
These stories show how human-caused wildfires and prevention decisions can carry steep costs.
• In Minnesota, a homeowner faced a $150,000 wildfire bill after crews contained a blaze.
• In Colorado, investigators traced the unexpected source of a 1,000-acre wildfire to burning trash.
• In Oregon, hidden wildfire losses showed the staggering cost of damage many homeowners never see.
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