Idaho had 3,100 square miles burned by wildfire last year, the most of any state in the country. According to officials at the Boise-based National Interagency Fire Center, nearly 80,000 wildfires torched some 14,000 square miles and over 5,000 buildings last year.

The area burned is second only to the 15,500 square miles burned in 2006.

More than $1.8 billion went to federal firefighting efforts in 2007, making it the second-costliest season on record.

Fire managers, who used 22.4 million gallons of fire retardant, attributed most of the fire activity to drought, hotter temperatures, and more homes built in rural areas.

Seven wildland firefighters died, one on the fireline - in 2006, 24 firefighters died, 12 on firelines.