BOISE, Idaho — Wildfire season is already underway here in Idaho, and meteorologists are concerned the upcoming season could see millions of acres burned across the Western U.S.
The National Interagency Fire Center says that over the last 10 years, 2026 saw the most acres burned nationally before June. Last year, 5.1 million acres burned across the U.S., and this season, 2.4 million acres have been charred.
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Meteorologists at AccuWeather are already predicting this season to be a tough one for the Pacific Northwest, including Idaho.
“We are going into the fire season with this long-term dry spell that we’ve been dealing with,” said Chad Merrill, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather. “Much of southern Idaho is in a moderate to extreme drought, whereas last year we were only dealing with moderate drought.”
Wildfire season can be unpredictable, but some indicators can give us an idea of what to expect.
The Gem State is heading into summer with the second warmest winter since 1934, and the Treasure Valley area saw three times the average precipitation fall in April. These conditions, combined with an early dry spell for the state, mean there's plenty of fuel for wildfires.
Hear experts talk about the upcoming wildfire season:
“This year, there will be a near-average number of fires across the northwest, but the fires that get going will burn quite a bit of acreage, so the number of acres will probably be above average,” explained Merrill.
Many factors play into wildfire season, but Idaho News 6's Chief Meteorologist Scott Dorval says there's one factor that can make a huge difference in the summer months.
“I just hope we don't get as much lightning. If we can keep the lightning away, that will really help the situation. If we have a lot of lightning-caused fires, we're probably going to be in pretty big trouble,” Dorval said.
August Outlook: National Interagency Fire Center
Most wildfires are human-caused, and Dorval says the growth in Idaho, mixed with warmer and drier summers, can lead to an uptick in fire activity across Idaho.
The public is encouraged to remain wildfire-aware throughout the coming months. Easy ways to prevent wildfires include securing trailer chains so they don't drag on pavement, fully extinguishing unattended campfires, avoiding parking on grass, and skipping fires (no matter how small) when conditions are windy.
Thankfully, June is forecast to see some cooler days pass through, which will delay the most intense parts of the season in July and August.
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