Upper Smith Fire (Idaho)

Burning across the federal timberlands of Boundary County, Idaho, the active Upper Smith Fire has steadily consumed 4,808 acres over 57 days since its natural ignition on July 8, 2026. Situated six miles west of Porthill and managed out of Bonners Ferry, the incident has expanded at an average rate of approximately 84 acres per day. Satellites are picking up seven heat detections over the past 48 hours, highlighting ongoing thermal activity across the perimeter as the fire burns through timber litter and understory.

Fire behavior is currently characterized as minimal, featuring backing, creeping, and smoldering as crews work toward containment. A Type 3 Incident supported by a Type 3 Team has deployed 150 personnel under the direction of the USFS to manage the federally owned landscape. Operations to suppress the blaze have accumulated a total cost of $31,618,521 while achieving 42 percent containment.

This incident unfolds during the region's typical fire season, which runs from June to October. Across the broader national landscape, 3,169,257 hectares have burned so far in 2026, tracking 42 percent below the two-decade average.