After a historic fire season, the Idaho Department of Lands is preparing to ask the state legislature for more money.
It cost about $75 million to fight fires on IDL lands this year. The state is on the hook for about 90% of that. It’s the highest total since 2015 due to significant fire activity, especially in North Idaho.
“In July, we saw historically unprecedented fire conditions around the state where we met or exceeded nearly every metric available related to fire danger and potential for significant fire spread,” IDL Director Dustin Miller said during a presentation to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee Wednesday.
Miller said the acreage burned on IDL-protected lands this year was more than 500% of the 20-year average.
IDL presented a budget preview for the next fiscal year with a nearly 29% – or roughly $2 million – increase from the general fund.