03 July 2013 (23:12 UTC-07 Tango 02 July 2013)/24 Sha’ban 1434/12 Tir 1391/26 Ji-Wie (5th month) 4711
Blackened hill from 2 1/2 Mile Road fire, northern Bannock County (as seen from Cotant Park, Chubbuck). About 1048 acres (424 hectares) burned. During the night winds died down and firefighters got the upper hand.
Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center reports the 2 1/2 Mile fire is contained.
EIIFC also reporting the lightning caused Beaver Pass fire in Butte County. One of the fire crews that battled the 2 1/2 Mile fire are now working the Beaver Pass fire with other crews from federal agencies and the cities of Arco and Custer County’s Lost River. 50 acres burned so far.
In southern Idaho, several fires are burning federal Bureau of Land management property. The Emery Fire has burned at least 600 acres (248.8 hectares), they hope to have it contained by Wednesday night. Another fire 3 miles north of the city of Wendell has burned 1833 acres (741.7 hectares), and is considered contained. The Point fire, near Rogerson, has burned at least 2500 acres (1011.7 hectares). The Jim Brown fire has burned 13000 acres (5260.9 hectares), containment expected by Wednesday night. The West Hollister fire is contained, and burned at least 3000 acres (1214 hectares). All the mentioned fires are suspected of being caused by lightning.
In western Idaho, fire crews are fighting the Turner fire, near Lucky Peak. It burned about 300 acres (121 hectares) and is suspected of being human caused.
“We saw what last year’s fire season did to Idaho. Right now, we are set up to have potentially a worse fire season than last year.”-Bob Shindelar, Boise National Forest
Back in June, analysts warned that the fire danger is extreme for Idaho mountain areas.
“They’re coming into their third year of really dry conditions. Even though we had a relatively good snowpack across most of Idaho this year, it hasn’t made up the deficit we’ve seen in the past.”-Ed Delgado, National Interagency Fire Center
02JUL2013 update: 2 1/2 MILE FIRE, APPROACHING NORTHERN POCATELLO
01JUL2013: NEW 2 AND A HALF MILE FIRE NORTHEAST OF CHUBBUCK, IDAHO
June 2012:
Smoke seen from downtown Old Town Pocatello. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, 28JUN2012.
POCATELLO CHARLOTTE FIRE STILL BURNING! 66 HOMES NOW DESTROYED!