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Washington County adopts emergency declaration as Tartar Fire grows past 100,000 acres
Summary
County commissioners adopted an emergency declaration through Dec. 31, 2026, after Emergency Manager Johnny Biddinger and IOEM staff reported rapid fire growth, communications outages and an approved FMAG that shifts most response costs to federal and state programs.
Washington County commissioners on Aug. 3 adopted a county Emergency Declaration after hearing that the Tartar Fire had rapidly expanded and was threatening lives, homes and county infrastructure.
Emergency Manager Johnny Biddinger told the board that the blaze "as of this morning, it's grown over 100,000 acres as predicted," and described multiple rapid growth episodes that prompted evacuations in Weiser and surrounding areas. Biddinger and Adam Gonzalez of the Idaho Office of Emergency Management said a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) had been approved and could be backdated to Aug. 1, 2026, to cover eligible response costs.
The declaration, which cites Section 46-1011 of the Idaho Code as authority, says an emergency exists in Washington County because of wildfire, rock slides, debris flows and flash flooding risks tied to the Tartar Fire and extends the declaration through Dec. 31, 2026. Prosecuting Attorney True Pearce reviewed the resolution language on the record before the board adopted it by motion; the transcript records only that the motion was carried.
The Emergency Manager said state and federal cost-sharing for FMAG would reduce the county's share: "FEMA, the Feds will pick up 75%. The state will pick up 15%, and then we will be responsible for 10% of the cost of whatever resources that we're requesting on this fire." Commissioners said the county would document costs and track reimbursable overtime, equipment time and fuel for possible recovery claims.
Commissioners also discussed the need for a formal signed county resolution to replace the verbal declaration (the verbal emergency covers seven days) and asked that the prosecuting attorney review the draft before signing. No roll-call vote tally for the declaration appears in the minutes; the entry records the motion was carried.
