29 June 2012, at 00:00 hours dozens of fires still burning on the hills where homes were ravaged, at the south end of Pocatello, Idaho. Associated Press reporting more than 1,000 people evacuated.
The winds have calmed down, but have also shifted northwest, smoke filtering slowly a few miles northwest into the city of Chubbuck overnight.
South end of Pocatello, dozens of fires still burning at 00:00 hours 29 June 2012. Bright light at top of pic is the full Moon.
Weather forecasts predict calm winds for the rest of Friday, good news for firefighters. Air temperatures expected to get into the 90s Fahrenheit (30s Celsius).
Camera not good enough to take pics at night, and I couldn’t get close enough ’cause of the police road blocks. By 23:30 hours, 28 June 2012, U.S. Bureau of Land Management said about 1,038 acres burned with no containment (reports of burned acreage conflict, National Interagency Fire Center, based 236 miles away in Boise, says 450 acres. another report out of Boise said 20% containment). As many as 700 homes threatened, at least 20 known destroyed.
The fire is dubbed Charlotte Fire (starting near Charlotte Road in the Mink Creek area), and local fire officials say the big concern now are downed power lines.
Portneuf Medical Center enacted their emergency plan, and reported two trauma cases, but unknown if connected to the fire.
Evacuees were told to go to Century High School or Idaho State University. Pets were being taken to Pocatello Animal Shelter. Livestock taken to Bannock County Fairgrounds.
Local businesses have been offering help to evacuees and firefighters. Officials suspect the fire was human caused.
Pocatello burning! Evacuations!