Idaho authorities are stressing the need for people to recreate responsibly, as Idaho is already seeing more than double the number of fires than the previous record.

“Idaho is experiencing severe drought and unprecedented fire conditions across most of the state,” said Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller. “Extreme fire conditions are at an all-time high and weather forecasts indicate that no relief is in the weeks ahead.”

Miller said during a press conference Tuesday at the National Interagency Fire Center that resources are already stretched thin and there is a significant shortage of people needed to fight fire.

Portions of the state are under Stage I and Stage II fire restrictions, and fire managers expect to announce additional restrictions in more parts of the state. IDL has an interactive website that displays current restrictions and what they mean: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/

Read more on the Idaho Reports blog: https://blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2021/07/13/idaho-sees-shortage-of-firefighters-amid-unprecedented-wildfire-conditions/

Watch the full press conference on the Idaho Reports YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/Zo9ia3ZLI90