Boise County Emergency Management is tasked with planning for and response to large-scale disaster conditions such as landslides, forest fires, flooding, earthquake, pandemic illnesses and other such events.  The County Emergency Manager works for the Boise County Commissioners and advises them on Disaster conditions.  We are the focal point between the Idaho Office of Emergency Management and Boise County.  Emergency Management interacts with and supports all first responders in the county including Law Enforcement, our 10 Fire Departments and 5 EMS units.

Emergency Planning and Training   The Department assists in development and coordinating tabletop and full scale exercises in all areas of the County during which our response agencies have the opportunity to work together in a controlled environment.

In addition we maintain 2 response trailers in the County stocked with HAZMAT and Medical response equipment as well as some basic survival equipment.   We work with the Fire Departments, EMS units, Senior Centers and other organizations to provide facilities for emergency response shelters or meal providers during emergency responses.

All Hazards Mitigation Plan    The Boise County All Hazards Mitigation Plan was developed during 2004-05 by the Boise County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee, in cooperation with Northwest Management, Inc., of Moscow, Idaho. Two bound documents have been produced as part of that planning effort. This plan was updated in 2017 and approved in 2018. The Boise County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee is currently working on a 2025 update.  Citizen participation is key to a successful update of this plan, please take the 2025 All Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey CLICK HERE
2025 AHMP Survey QR Code

Boise County has upgraded and improved the emergency power systems for several critical public buildings. Boise County received a $70,000 grant from Idaho’s Department of Health & Welfare to improve our ability to continue critical government services and provide shelter facilities during times of prolonged utility outages. Several generators were installed and updated at County and Fire Department facilities.

Wildfire Mitigation Administrator
Jordan Jones
Phone  208-807-0073
[email protected]

Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator
Melanie Barkalow
[email protected]

Wildland Urban Interface    The office of  Boise County Wildfire Mitigation interacts with Planning & Zoning and the Fire Departments regarding subdivisions, conditional use permits and building in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).  Amended Unified Land Use Ordinance  governs new development.

Please Review the new Boise County Burn Ordinance Below:
2025-06 Burning Ordinance

Idaho Department of Lands Fire Restrictions:
Fire restrictions are a last resort to prevent unwanted human caused fires. During Closed Fire Season (May 10–October 20), burning is regulated on state and private lands through burn permits where specific types of burning may or may not be allowed. During this same time frame, the BLM issues an annual Prevention Order that limits certain types of activities on public lands they administer.

County Wildfire Protection Plan  Boise County’s 10 fire departments collaborated with Boise County government and citizens in 2003 to plan for improvements in our ability to prevent and survive wildland fires in our residential areas. That Boise County Wildfire Protection Plan was again updated in 2023 after consultation with the Fire Chiefs of those departments.