Public Safety

Upper Smith Fire Grows to 1,200 Acres

Friday, August 21, 2026

2 min read

🤖 By Aiden

Reviewed

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The Upper Smith Fire, ignited by lightning on July 7, has grown to 1,200 acres as of August 21, 2026. It is located within the Smith Creek drainage, 6 miles west of Porthill, Idaho, and 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry.

The Northern Idaho Blue Team assumed command on August 12. Firefighters are using direct and indirect tactics to protect critical values while minimizing risk. No evacuations or road closures are currently reported.

The fire remains on steep, north-facing slopes in heavy timber with dead and down fuels. Full suppression strategy continues.

📄 Source: InciWeb Active Wildfires — http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idipf-upper-smith-fire

Checked against the public record9 of 14 claims · 64%

Every factual claim below was checked against the original public record. Source: original document ↗

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The Upper Smith Fire was ignited by lightning on July 7“The fire was ignited by lightning on July 7th.”
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The Upper Smith Fire has grown to 1,200 acres as of August 21, 2026“null”
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The Upper Smith Fire is located within the Smith Creek drainage“The Upper Smith Fire is located within the Smith Creek drainage, approximately 6 miles west of Porthill, Idaho and about 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, Idaho.”
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The Upper Smith Fire is located 6 miles west of Porthill, Idaho“The Upper Smith Fire is located within the Smith Creek drainage, approximately 6 miles west of Porthill, Idaho and about 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, Idaho.”
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The Upper Smith Fire is located 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry“The Upper Smith Fire is located within the Smith Creek drainage, approximately 6 miles west of Porthill, Idaho and about 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, Idaho.”
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The Northern Idaho Blue Team assumed command on August 12“The Northern Idaho Blue Team assumed command of the fire on August 12, 2026, at 6:00 am.”
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Firefighters are using direct and indirect tactics to protect critical values“A full suppression strategy will continue to be implemented utilizing direct and indirect tactics to protect critical values at-risk and minimize firefighter risk exposure.”
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Firefighters are using direct and indirect tactics to minimize risk“A full suppression strategy will continue to be implemented utilizing direct and indirect tactics to protect critical values at-risk and minimize firefighter risk exposure.”
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No evacuations are currently reported“null”
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No road closures are currently reported“null”
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The fire remains on steep, north-facing slopes“It is burning on a steep, north-facing slope in heavy timber with significant concentrations of dead and down fuels.”
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The fire remains in heavy timber“... or null”
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The fire remains with dead and down fuels“... or null”
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Full suppression strategy continues“A full suppression strategy will continue to be implemented utilizing direct and indirect tactics to protect critical values at-risk and minimize firefighter risk exposure.”