Eastern Idaho fire crews were stretched across roughly 10 active wildfires Friday as lightning and human-caused ignitions sparked flames from the Idaho-Utah line to the Rexburg area. Incident commanders said most blazes remained limited in size Friday evening, but increasing heat and dry conditions raised concern for fire managers heading into the weekend.
Small lightning fire near Fish Haven drew aerial support
Within Caribou-Targhee National Forest, the Alpine Slough Fire burned about half an acre roughly 10 miles west of Fish Haven near Wilderness Peak. Fire officials said the fire was caused by lightning and was not threatening homes or buildings as of Friday evening.
Crews on scene included four fire engines and a Type 3 helicopter. Engines hiked into the terrain while the helicopter performed water-bucket drops to help reach containment. Containment was estimated Friday at 10 p.m., and managers hoped to have the fire controlled by 10 p.m. Saturday.
“Resources responded to the Alpine Slough fire Friday afternoon. Engine crews hiked into the fire to begin work with support of the Type 3 helicopter. Resources have utilized the helicopter for water bucket drops to reach estimated containment and control,”
Maze Fire west of Rexburg was largest and has been contained
The most notable incident this week was the Maze Fire, which burned 1,579 acres on Bureau of Land Management property about seven miles west of Rexburg near Beaver Dick Park and the Unified Sportsmen’s Club shooting range. The blaze began Monday afternoon.
Rapid spread prompted the shooting range to be evacuated early and led to an evacuation order for residents living on 6000 West north of West Highway 33. That evacuation order was lifted before midnight Monday. Fire officials reported the Maze Fire was fully contained Tuesday night.
Other activity and conditions
Fire managers also noted a very small lightning-caused fire about six miles west of Kilgore that was contained Wednesday; it burned about one-tenth of an acre. The Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center listed roughly 10 active wildfires across the region as of Friday.
Officials cautioned that the forecast called for what some forecasters labeled the hottest weekend yet this season in parts of eastern Idaho — a factor that can increase fire behavior and complicate suppression. While many of the current incidents were either controlled or not threatening structures, continued vigilance is expected as crews work through steep, forested terrain and dry fuels.
- Alpine Slough Fire: ~0.5 acre, lightning-caused, near Fish Haven; engines and helicopter on scene; containment estimated 10 p.m. Friday.
- Maze Fire: 1,579 acres, BLM land west of Rexburg; early evacuations, fully contained Tuesday night.
- Kilgore lightning fire: ~0.1 acre, contained Wednesday.
| Fire | Size | Cause | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Slough | ~0.5 acre | Lightning | Contained/being controlled (estimate: 10 p.m. Fri) |
| Maze Fire | 1,579 acres | Unknown (reported start Mon) | Fully contained (Tue night) |
| Kilgore area | ~0.1 acre | Lightning | Controlled (Wed) |
For now, the outlook in eastern Idaho is one of continued monitoring. Residents in and around public lands should be prepared for short-term closures or restrictions and heed any evacuation orders or guidance from local fire and land-management agencies.
Local fire managers asked the public to avoid ignitions during hot, dry periods and to report any new smoke or flames to emergency dispatch immediately.
