Idaho fire loss approaches 400,000 acres

So far this year, wildfire has burned 397,126 acres, according to the Idaho Department of Lands’ running tally.

As of August 2, Bureau of Land Management lands lost the most, 236,737 acres.

Private acreage totaled 84,053 acres, and State Lands have lost 50,059.

Forest Service lands have lost 22,665 acres to wildfire, Idaho Fish and Game reserves have lost 188 acres and other federal lands have seen 3,424 acres burned.

Nationally, the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise reports there are more than 127 wildfires burning on about 1.6 million acres in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and Alaska.

The Center is activating active duty military personnel to serve as firefighters.

The National Preparedness Level is currently at 5, the highest level. The designation indicates a high level of wildfire activity and commitment of resources.

Weather and fuel conditions are expected to spread across most of the western United States over the next several weeks.