A series of lightning storms rolled through the Idaho Panhandle beginning July 16, touching off at least 11 fires across the region — including several in Shoshone County — while forestry officials warned that human carelessness remains the leading cause of wildfires across the state this fire season.
Most of the lightning-sparked blazes were caught quickly and held to fractions of an acre, but two fires in the northern Panhandle grew into larger incidents requiring sustained aerial and ground suppression efforts. The Upper Smith Fire, located roughly 10 miles from the Canadian border, had burned nearly 900 acres as of July 21 with zero containment, while aircraft were deployed to support suppression work. The Turner Fire north of Bonners Ferry near Highway 95 had grown to nearly 700 acres but was approaching 70 percent containment. Level 2 evacuation orders remained in place for several neighborhoods near the Turner Fire perimeter.
Several Shoshone County Fires Contained Quickly
Shoshone County saw multiple ignitions during the active stretch. The King Fire, located west of Eagle along the Coeur d’Alene River, was held to one-tenth of an acre and controlled July 18. The Cedar Creek Fire east of Coeur d’Alene and southwest of Prichard — also one-tenth of an acre — was controlled July 19. The 2572 Alpha Fire southeast of Queen Mountain came in at one-tenth of an acre and was controlled July 17.
The Tent Creek Fire, which started north of Kellogg near Graham Creek Campground, was contained to one-tenth of an acre and controlled July 18 — a fire that drew particular local attention given its proximity to the Silver Valley community. The Deer Creek Fire west of Blacktail Creek grew to two acres before crews completed a fireline around it, and the Alden Creek Fire east of Blacktail Creek near the Montana border reached a half-acre and was reported contained as of July 21.
Outside Shoshone County, the Stacel Fire east of Canfield Mountain in Kootenai County reached a quarter-acre before being declared out July 19. The Gisborne Fire south of Priest River and west of Schweitzer Mountain in Bonner County covered a half-acre but was controlled the same day it was discovered. The Wellington Fire north of Clark Fork and the Summit Fire southwest of Clark Fork — both in Bonner County — were each contained at one-tenth of an acre. The Kreist Creek Fire roughly 2.5 miles southeast of Sinclair in Boundary County was also contained at one-tenth of an acre.
Human-Caused Fires Outnumber Lightning Strikes Statewide
Despite the dramatic run of lightning activity, Idaho forestry officials pointed to a sobering statistic: 41 percent of wildfires across the state this year have been attributed to human causes, compared to 19 percent caused by lightning strikes. Officials stressed that responsible behavior in the outdoors — fully extinguishing campfires, respecting burn restrictions, and exercising care with equipment and vehicles — can prevent disasters before they start.
Kary Maddux, speaking on behalf of forestry officials, emphasized the individual’s role in prevention. “We can’t pick where lightning strikes, but simple actions like fully extinguishing campfires, following burn restrictions, and staying mindful with equipment and vehicles can be the difference between a quiet summer day and a large, costly wildfire.”
Megan Bush echoed the importance of early detection and rapid response. “While larger incidents draw the most attention, catching fires when they’re small is key to preventing large-scale wildfire impacts.”
Forecast winds were expected to complicate ongoing suppression efforts, particularly for the Upper Smith Fire, which remained the most serious active incident in the Panhandle as of late July.
What Comes Next
Firefighting crews will continue working to achieve full containment on the Upper Smith Fire as weather conditions allow. Aircraft remain available for suppression support. Residents near the Turner Fire should monitor evacuation order status and be prepared to act quickly if levels escalate. The Idaho Panhandle National Forests Fire Information Line is available seven days a week during fire season at (208) 557-8813. Anyone who spots a wildfire should call 911 immediately.
For ongoing coverage of public safety incidents across the Silver Valley and Shoshone County, visit Shoshone County Dispatchers Honored for Response During December Sheriff’s Office Shooting. Additional North Idaho public safety news is available at KootenaiCountyNews.com.