UPDATE: Desert fire near Menan Butte expected to be contained
Published at | Updated at
REXBURG — Authorities say a rapidly spreading wildfire that started in the desert north of the Menan Butte has been halted and it should be contained by this evening.
Just after 5 p.m., a rapidly spreading wildfire was reported on Bureau of Land Management property in Jefferson County near Twin Butte Road between Rexburg and Interstate 15.
The fire, which is estimated at more than 50 acres, was moving north toward Idaho Highway 33, before it was halted by firefighters at the highway, according to Central Fire District Assistant Fire Chief Carl Anderson.
Authorities closed a portion of ID-33 due to poor visibility.
Some eclipse campers in the area self-evacuated when the fire started, Anderson said.
Central Fire District, Madison Fire Department and BLM responded to the fire. Air support assisted in fire control.
Authorities said they suspect the fire was caused by people.
Eastern Idaho is in the middle of a Red Flag warning, which means high winds and low humidity are creating perfect conditions for fires to spread rapidly. In the vicinity of the fire, winds are measuring between 10 to 20 mph with gust of 30 mph. Humidity is between 9 to 15 percent.
This weather-related story is brought to you by Frontier Credit Union. At Frontier Credit Union, we believe in building a better life for our members, our communities and the great state of Idaho. Explore our solutions and start building your better life today at Frontier Credit Union.