The State of Idaho is adopting the “Ready, Set, Go” wildfire evacuation program as the statewide standard for public evacuation messaging, establishing a unified, consistent approach to communicating evacuation risk and action levels across all jurisdictions.
This messaging aligns with the statutory authority of Idaho’s county sheriffs, who retain responsibility for issuing evacuation orders within their respective counties.
“We believe standardizing this message will improve public understanding and reduce confusion during fast-moving incidents when timely response can save lives,” said Jeff Lavey, Executive Director, Idaho Sheriffs’ Association. “It will also strengthen the coordination among local, state, and interagency partners.”
This statewide adoption responds directly to recommendations outlined in Governor Brad Little’s 2024 wildfire response report, which called for improved evacuation planning, clearer public messaging, and more consistent interagency coordination during wildfire events.
Interagency implementation is underway, led collaboratively by Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho Office of Emergency Management, Idaho Fire Chiefs Association, Idaho Sheriffs’ Association, Idaho Emergency Managers Association and in coordination with other public safety partners.
“The goal of Ready, Set, Go is to give every Idaho community a clear, consistent wildfire evacuation process that protects lives, improves service to the public, and reduces confusion,” state officials noted. “In recent years, the proliferation of varying evacuation messaging has at times created unnecessary uncertainty during high-risk incidents, underscoring the importance of a unified standard.”
Under the Ready, Set, Go framework, evacuation messaging is structured into progressive action levels designed to clearly communicate risk and required public response:
- Ready — Prepare for possible evacuation
- Set — Be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice
- Go — Evacuate immediately when directed by the county sheriff
Officials emphasized that as wildfire activity increases in intensity and the wildland-urban interface continues to expand across Idaho, evacuation frequency and complexity are also increasing. A consistent statewide standard is intended to improve public safety outcomes and operational clarity for incident management teams and local responders.
The implementation effort will focus on training, public education, interagency coordination, and alignment of messaging protocols across counties to ensure consistent application during emergency incidents.
For more information on evacuation standards and wildfire preparedness in Idaho, residents are encouraged to follow guidance from their county sheriff’s office and local emergency management authorities.
