Controlled burn wildfire scorches 13 acres in Indian Creek area
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The following is a news release from the Inkom Volunteer Fire Department.
INKOM — The Inkom Volunteer Fire Department responded to its second controlled burn wildfire in three days Friday.
The fire started at around 1 p.m. in the vicinity of Indian Creek Road and quickly spread uphill to the northwest, potentially threatening two homes.
After a quick assessment, the Inkom Fire Department requested mutual aid and resources from the North Bannock and Pocatello Valley Fire Departments as well as from the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management arrived to assist.
The fire came within 100 feet of one residence and approximately 100 yards of a second, but ultimately, everything was saved.
Firefighters were on scene until shortly after 7 p.m. An estimated 13 acres were burned.
Residents need to be aware that grasses and fine fuels are extremely dry at this time of year. he vegetation is still dormant coming out of winter which creates a “freeze-dried” effect. Even though snow is still on the hills and the ground may be moist, the vegetation is primed to burn. The Friday exhibited moderate and occasionally extreme behavior with flame lengths exceeding 20 feet from grasses and sagebrush.
If you are planning any burning on your property, we recommend you contact your local fire department, get a burn permit, make sure you have plenty of water immediately available and closely monitor wind conditions prior to and during your burning. In addition, don’t leave any fire unattended or assume it is out because you don’t see visible smoke.
Heat can remain trapped under matted grass that appears burned and reignite as temperatures rise, humidity falls or wind speeds increase during the day.