UPDATE: Horse Butte Fire grows to 9,446 acres; Lake Channel Fire reaches 8,272 acres
Published at | Updated at
ABERDEEN — Efforts to quell wildfires in eastern Idaho met with varying levels of success Saturday night.
A fire burning near Dubois, the Radar Hill Fire, is now 100 percent contained and burned a total of 75 acres. The fire burning in Bonneville County north of Russet Noise Park has also been mostly put out. It burned a total of 500 acres.
The Horse Butte Fire near Aberdeen and the Lake Channel Fire near Raft River continue to grow significantly though.
Horse Butte Fire
The Horse Butte Fire, located 17 miles northwest of Aberdeen on Bureau of Land Management property, was very active during the night and continues to make runs.
The fire, which started at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, grew to more than 9,446 acres as of 3 p.m. Saturday. It is zero percent contained. No estimates on full containment have been given.
Crews are working to mop up the north, west and south sides of the fire. Engines with air support are attacking the active east flank of the fire.
Thus far the blaze has only burned grass and brush, and no structures have been threatened. There have also been no road closures or evacuations as a result of this fire.
Officials say the cause of the fire was a lightning strike.
Lake Channel Fire
Firefighters are making good progress fighting the fire. The biggest challenge right now is containing the fire’s northern edge due to lava fields, which makes access difficult.
The Lake Channel Fire has been burning since 3 p.m. Saturday about seven miles north of Raft River on BLM property.
The fire has burned some 8,272 acres as of 3 p.m. Sunday and remains active and running. It is 40 percent contained. Full containment is expected on Monday.
Thus far the blaze has only burned grass and brush, and no structures have been threatened. There have also been no road closures or evacuations as a result of this fire.
Officials say the cause of the fire was also a lightning strike.
Wilson Fire
The Wilson Fire, smoldering two miles northeast of Hazelton, had very little activity during the night.
It is measuring at 317 acres, and full containment is expected by 10 p.m. Sunday.
This fire was also caused by lightning.