Idaho’s potential for significant wildfires will increase in July and August, state fire officials told Gov. Brad Little and the other members of the State Board of Land Commissioners on Tuesday.
When fire season picks up, half of the seasonal firefighters will be brand new — as turnover leaves Idaho equipped to meet only the minimum standard of fire protection.
The Idaho Department of Lands Fire Management — which is responsible for fire suppression on more than 2.4 million acres of state endowment lands as well additional private forests and rangelands — will be experiencing turnover among firefighters and shortages in fireline leadership personnel, Idaho Department of Lands Fire Chief Josh Harvey said.
Harvey told the Land Board that it has been difficult to retain experienced firefighters, and this season 50% of the department’s seasonal firefighting force is new.
Harvey said the department will need to pursue alternative strategies to properly maintain the fireline leadership, such as rotating engine captains out from districts that are more heavily staffed and placing them in fire districts that lack personnel with leadership qualifications.
“Based on how we have looked in years past, I would say this year we will be meeting a minimum standard for fire readiness,” Harvey said.
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