Dustin Miller, director of the Idaho Department of Lands, told lawmakers that human activity caused more than 80 percent of wildfires on state-managed property this year. Miller presented the data to the Natural Resources Interim Committee at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise on Tuesday.
Through the end of September, approximately 10,000 acres of land under the department’s jurisdiction burned. That figure does not include federal lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The financial toll on state resources exceeded $47 million for the same period, though officials estimate that partner agencies will reimburse roughly $19.8 million of those expenses.
Miller noted that the high percentage of human-caused fires highlights the need for both fuel mitigation and prevention efforts. He emphasized that responsible behavior is critical to avoiding financial losses, environmental damage, and threats to public safety.
The state investigates every wildfire on its lands to determine cause and pursue recovery of suppression costs from negligent parties. Officials work with individuals and their insurance companies to recoup taxpayer money, though the process can take years and often results in settlements lower than the actual cost of fighting the fire.
Common causes cited by officials include uncontrolled debris piles, sparks from metal equipment such as chains, discarded cigarette butts, and campfires that were not fully extinguished before departure. These incidents threaten firefighter safety, destroy private property, and consume timber lands held in the state endowment, which generates revenue for public schools.
The wildfire suppression fund remained solvent this year after receiving a $32 million appropriation from the Idaho Legislature on July 1. Because of that infusion, the state did not need to issue deficiency warrants to cover wildfire expenses. Department staff are currently calculating funding estimates for next year’s fire season.
Miller previously reported a spike in human-caused fires to a commission of statewide elected officials in 2023.