Upper Smith
active fire 
wildfire Updated
Environment
Right Now
| TODAY | SEP 28 | SEP 29 | SEP 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | 50° 32° |  56° 41° |  49° 45° | 54° 34° |
| Area Fire Potential | TODAY Lowest SEP 28 Lowest SEP 29 Lowest SEP 30 Lowest | |||
| Area Fuels | Timber (Litter and Understory) | |||
Response
LEAD AGENCY
Forest ServiceRESPONSE LEVEL
Type 4
Details
INCIDENT DETAILS
FIRE BEHAVIOR
Minimal
NEAREST CITY
Bonners Ferry
DESCRIPTION
6 Miles W from Porthill, IDOVERVIEW
Upper Smith Fire started on 07/08 and is currently at 4,848 acres and 41% containment.Inciweb Media
Recent media provided by InciWeb of Idaho fire activity.
Upper Smith Fire Report — September 26, 2026
Minimal fire activity as suppression repair continues under forest closures
The Upper Smith Fire is burning in the Smith Creek drainage on steep, north-facing slopes in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, northwest of Bonners Ferry and west of Porthill. Over the last 72 hours, fire activity remained minimal, with smoldering and creeping confined to heavy timber and slash. The fire poses no immediate threat to nearby communities.
Evacuations and Closures
- No evacuation orders or warnings are in effect as of September 25, 2026.
- U.S. Forest Service road and trail closures remain in effect across the fire area in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests as of September 25, 2026.
Conditions and Outlook
Breezy west-southwest winds will ease over the coming days, accompanied by overcast skies, moderate humidity, and a slight chance of light precipitation. Fire behavior is expected to remain minimal with smoldering in deep duff, and officials anticipate little change in activity until a season-ending weather event arrives. Crews are focusing on suppression repair operations.
Cause and Context
Lightning ignited the fire on July 8, 2026, in steep terrain that includes burn scars from the 2015 Parker Ridge and 2022 Long Canyon fires.
Official updates current through September 26, 2026.
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