Severe Weather History


Idaho Wildfire History: 428 Recorded Events

428

Recorded events

28

Counties affected

3

Direct deaths

$693.4M

Property damage

Idaho wildfire history: 428 recorded events across 28 counties between 1996 and 2025.

Decade by decade

Idaho wildfire history by decade

Idaho wildfire history: recorded events per decade
Idaho wildfire history: recorded events per decade

The 2000s are the busiest decade on record with 42 reported wildfire events across Idaho. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.

County ranking

Counties with the most wildfire events in Idaho

RankCountyEventsDeathsDamageSpan
#1Bingham County70$50K1999–2003
#2Lincoln County50$750K1996–2003
#3Blaine County50$01996–2003
#4Bannock County50$500K2000–2003
#5Power County40$01996–2000
#6Clark County40$25K2000–2003
#7Custer County30$02000–2003
#8Elmore County30$01996–2000
#9Kootenai County30$50K1998–1998
#10Oneida County30$01996–2001
#11Gem County30$01996–1997
#12Butte County30$01999–2000
#13Cassia County20$01996–2002
#14Shoshone County20$20K1998–1999
#15Lemhi County22$02000–2003
#16Owyhee County20$01997–2002
#17Canyon County20$01996–2001
#18Benewah County20$45K1998–1998
#19Twin Falls County10$02000–2000
#20Bonner County10$5K1998–1998
#21Payette County10$01996–1996
#22Jefferson County10$02000–2000
#23Caribou County10$02003–2003
#24Madison County10$02003–2003
#25Bonneville County10$02001–2001
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · ranked by recorded event count

Significant events

Deadliest wildfire events in Idaho

DateCountyScaleDeathsInjuries
Jul 22, 2003Lemhi County—20
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · dates UTC

All hazards in Idaho · Wildfire across the U.S.