COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – The Idaho Department of Lands is considering a proposal that could lead to increased fire prevention fees for landowners.
The proposal, recently approved by the Idaho Board of Land Commissioners, suggests an increase in acreage payments
Instead of paying approximately $40 a year, around 67,000 Idaho landowners could soon be paying about $100 annually.
According to the proposal, the change could generate an additional $4 million a year in fire prevention revenue.
Fire Chief Josh Harvey from the Idaho Department of Lands discussed the growing costs of firefighting.
“We look at it two different ways,” Harvey said. “We have preparedness, which is the personnel, the engines, the equipment to respond to a fire. And then on the other hand, we have the actual expense of fighting the fire itself.”
Over the years, Harvey explained the cost of equipment has risen significantly.
“20 years ago it cost us maybe $90,000 to build a wildfire engine,” Harvey said. “Well now it costs us roughly $150,000.”
Despite inflation, the surcharge fee for fire prevention has remained unchanged for 20 years.
“The surcharge and the assessment, the 0.60 an acre assessment, those haven’t been addressed in 20 years,” Harvey said.
The additional revenue from the proposed fee increase would support stations like the one in Coeur d’Alene, which houses millions of dollars in equipment.
Governor Brad Little toured the cache on Wednesday, which holds equipment worth as much as $8 million.
“Is this all you got when there’s a fire?” Little asked during his visit.
Harvey emphasized the importance of having a stockpile of equipment, as it can easily be damaged during fires.
“We need to be able to be funded to meet our growing responsibility,” Harvey said.
He says the costs associated with wildfire fighting are significant.
Ryan Rodruck noted the surprise many feel about these expenses.
“People are shocked by how much wildfire costs,” Rodruck said.
Rodruck explained that, aircraft drops with red retardant can cost an average of $65,000, excluding air time.
In 2024, the Idaho Department of Lands reported an average fire cost of $137,729, even though the median fire size was only 0.1 acre.
Larger fires can result in costs reaching millions of dollars.
“I think to date, we are right about 14 and a half million dollars,” Harvey said.
The surcharge proposal aims to address the growing threat of fires, especially as more homes are built in the urban interface.
“So in terms of the surcharge, it’s because of the threat that we’re seeing and because of the expansion we are seeing and the growth in Idaho and the number of homes that we’re fighting fire in around the urban interface – that threat is what we’re looking at,” Harvey said.
The State Land Commission approved the proposed price hike in early July.
This gives the Department of Lands a few months to review the proposal before it could be presented in the next legislative session in January.
