Thousands of acres of land are burning in wildfires across Idaho. Here is the latest information we have gathered.
Grassy Ridge Fire:
UPDATE: The Grassy Ridge fire near St. Anthony has shrunk to an estimated 97,000 acres as of 8 p.m. Sunday. The fire is still 20% contained.
#GrassyRidgeFire public meeting will be held at Lindy Ross Elementary School in Dubois, 8:30 p.m. this evening (7/29). #GreatBasinTeam3 will discuss fire strategy and address concerns. The public and media are encouraged to attend. #BLMIFDFire pic.twitter.com/wq0ACv37wY
— Bureau of Land Management Idaho Fire (@BLMIdahoFire) July 29, 2018
Officials say thunderstorms expected in the area this afternoon could cause problems for the crews fighting the fire. The Great Basin Team Three will hold a public meeting 8:30 Sunday evening at Lindy Ross Elementary school in Dubois to discuss the firefighting strategy and answer the public's questions.
Original Story: The Grassy Ridge fire near St. Anthony has grown to 75,698 acres and is described as "actively growing." The fire is twenty percent contained but is threatening structures. Officials in Clark County are evacuating Dubois, and the A2 road in conjunction with Red Road is blocked. Red Road is closed from the sand dunes to the Kilgore Road.
The BLM says the fire was caused by lighting, after a storm Friday afternoon near Red Road.
#GrassyRidgeFire Closure: Clark County has closed the A2 road to the junction of Red Road. Ranchers are still being let in to get cows. You can still travel to Kilgore by taking the Spencer-Idmon Road. #BLMIFDFire
— Bureau of Land Management Idaho Fire (@BLMIdahoFire) July 29, 2018
BLM officials say the thunderstorm's winds caused the fire to spread, and describe the fire as "running and very active." Several hundred head of cows have died, but no injuries have been reported. No evacuations are currently in place.
UPDATE: Mandatory evacuations are underway at the Little Wood Recreation Area campground and all residences on Little Wood Reservoir Road and Flat Top Road north of the reservoir as a result of the Sharps Fire. Residents in Fish Creek Road are now on Pre-Evacuation Notice. The fire is described as "active and running."
#SharpsFire is est. at 3,000 acres and running. Little Wood River Recreation site and High 5 Creek area are closed to the public. #BLMTFDFire pic.twitter.com/4tX00XqTsK
— Bureau of Land Management Idaho Fire (@BLMIdahoFire) July 30, 2018
The Sharps fire is burning 3,000 acres near Bellvue and is threatening multiple structures near Flat Top Airstrip.
The Blaine County Sheriff's Department says the fire has crossed Muldoon Summit and Little Wood Reservoir Rd. The Sharps Fire is burning into Cold Creek, High Five Creek and towards Carey farm areas.
The fire started around 11:15 Sunday Morning. The BLM says the thunderstorms, high heat and gusty winds in the area are a concern.
Muldoon Canyon Road is closed at the west side E-Da-Ho Ranch entrance and at Baugh Creek Rd on the east side. On the east side of the E-Da-Ho Ranch the road closure has been moved to Hunt Lane.
Officials are asking the public to stay away from the area. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Original Story: The Sharps Fire near Bellvue is 100 acres and is described as "running and torching" by the BLM.
Muldoon Canyon Road is closed. The BLM says aircraft are on the way to help fight the fire.
Rattlesnake Creek Fire:
The Rattlesnake Creek fire burning near Pollock is threatening structures in the Pollock, Pinehurst and Whitewater Wilderness Ranch Estates.
The 3,509-acre fire is eighteen percent contained. Hot and dry weather conditions are making it difficult for the 445 firefighters fighting the fire. As of right now, officials do not know the cause of the fire.
Given the continuing hot and dry weather and the increase in fire activity in the western U.S., the decision to move to Preparedness Level 5 depicts the complexity that fire managers are encountering to assure that adequate firefighting resources are available. #fireseason2018 pic.twitter.com/qmjO12mZTc
— Bureau of Land Management Idaho Fire (@BLMIdahoFire) July 28, 2018
Keithly Fire:
UPDATE: The Keithly Fire is now 17,612 acres and is 84 percent contained.
Original Story: The Keithly fire has grown to 15,434 acres and is burning near Midvale. According to the Payette National Forest, the fire is ten percent contained.
Firefighters will focus their efforts on areas of heat in Sage and Deer Creeks.
Officials believe lightning caused the fire.
. @NWSGreatFalls IMET enroute to #KiethlyFire near Midvale, ID #IDwx #IDFires @PayetteForest @NWSBoise https://t.co/VP8nQFNeRr pic.twitter.com/xW83hKMxZo
— NWS IMET Operations (@NWS_IMET_OPS) July 27, 2018
Mesa Fire:
UPDATE: The Mesa Fire has grown to 25,577 acres. Evacuations have been lifted in all areas except north of Grays' Creek Road, where there is a level two evacuation in place. The fire is still only five percent contained.
Original Story: The Mesa Fire has grown overnight to nearly 15,000 acres and is currently five percent contained.
. @NWSSaltLakeCity IMET enroute to #MesaFire near Council, ID #IDwx #IDFires @PayetteForest @NWSBoise https://t.co/bQL50QJLPn pic.twitter.com/ikobHqgsEj
— NWS IMET Operations (@NWS_IMET_OPS) July 28, 2018
The 14,839-acre fire is causing a type two evacuation in Mesa Indian Valley, south of Gray's Creek road. The Adams County Sheriff's Office is ordering a level 3 evacuation for Cottonwood, South Exeter, Trail Lane and the Cool Creek areas. , which is the most urgent. They encourage people to leave those areas immediately because there is a danger in the area which is current or imminent.
🔥Impressive smoke plumes yesterday afternoon across the region as seen from the GOES 16 satellite. #idwx #orwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/nFzs2qLHEu
— NWS Boise (@NWSBoise) July 28, 2018
Officials say the fire is likely human-caused.
Highway 95 had been subject to periodic closures and restrictions from roughly 8 miles north of Weiser to Midvale, due to the Keithly and Mesa wildfires. The Mesa fire has also prompted evacuations for the Cottonwood Rd., South Exeter, and Cool Creek areas in Adams County.
Mile Marker 73 and Highway 55 Fire:
The #MM73HWY55Fire is 4,653 acres and 80% contained. Crews continue to make excellent progress on the fire. @IdahoLands pic.twitter.com/dymWjvVoH5
— Bureau of Land Management Idaho Fire (@BLMIdahoFire) July 28, 2018
UPDATE: The Mile Marker 73 and Highway 55 fire near Horseshoe Bend is now 80 percent contained.
Original Story: The Mile Marker 73 and Highway 55 fire has grown to 4,480 acres and is now 60 percent contained.
The Idaho Department of Lands, together with the U.S. Forest Service, and the Garden Valley and Horseshoe Bend Fire Departments, continue to battle the fire that continues to burn uphill and to the east.
For those who must take Highway 55, it is fully reopened, but keep in mind that work on the fire will continue on the corridor, so use caution.
“There is the possibility of falling rock, so drivers need to be aware of the possible hazard and drive with caution,” Idaho Department of Lands spokesman Randall Phelps said.
Boise County Emergency Manager Robert Showalter said, “I would like the public to know that, if they plan on camping in Boise County, to take a close look at the area of the fire and the direction it’s moving. Wind conditions could put a damper on their weekend with the smoke so that’s also something to consider. Also, a reminder to have a shovel, fire extinguisher and a bucket should be on hand when camping in the event a campfire gets out of hand.”
The fire was reported Wednesday, July 25th, at around 4 p.m.
The official cause is under investigation.
Jim Sage Fire:
The Jim Sage fire burning near Elba is estimated at 2,000 acres.
No structures are threatened. The fire was caused by lightning.
The fire is expected to be contained at 8 p.m. Monday night.
#JimSageFire The Jim Sage fire is burning in heavy juniper, grass and brush. Estimated at 1,900 acres. Fire fighters are experiencing extreme fire behavior with running, torching and spotting. Visit https://t.co/WLpfk6gqkH for full update. #BLMTFDFire pic.twitter.com/eeoOjXoRrq
— Bureau of Land Management Idaho Fire (@BLMIdahoFire) July 27, 2018
Bruneau Fire:
UPDATE: The Bruneau Fire near Murphy hot springs has been contained, at 61,691 acres according to the BLM.
Original Story: The Bruneau Fire near Murphy Hot Springs is 61,000 acres.
Video from the initial attack of the #BruneauFire on Monday. Firefighters faced tough conditions during the initial 24 hrs of the fire. #BLMTFDFire pic.twitter.com/BaYXNau7Bz
— Bureau of Land Management Idaho Fire (@BLMIdahoFire) July 27, 2018
Twin Falls BLM officials believe lightning started the fire. No structures are threatened and the fire is expected to be contained by 8 p.m. Sunday.
#BruneauFire is est. at 61,000 acres, fire behavior remained calm throughout the day with minimal fire growth. Crews continue to improve containment lines and mop up hotspots. #BLMTFDFire
— Bureau of Land Management Idaho Fire (@BLMIdahoFire) July 28, 2018
Trestle Creek Fire:
UPDATE: The Trestle Creek Fire is now 100% contained. Fire crews say they will install water bars to prevent erosion and will continue to monitor the fire's perimeter.
Original Story: The Trestle Fire burning near Smith's Ferry is 129 acres and is 80% contained
No structures are threatened and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
