Boise Foothills fire reaches 2,500 acres; containment efforts continue
Published at
Emily Carmela Nelson, Idaho Statesman
BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — The Claremont Fire grew to an estimated 2,500 acres overnight, local fire officials said Tuesday.
Boise firefighters and several other agencies responded to the wildfire shortly after 1 p.m. Monday. The fire started near the 1900 block of North Claremont Drive and quickly spread into the nearby Foothills.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, no structures had been threatened, and crews were actively working to contain the fire, according to the Idaho branch of the U.S. Wildland Fire Services.
No residents have been evacuated from their homes. However, the Boise Fire Department is actively monitoring the direction of the fire and has a plan in place to notify those who live in the area if necessary.
“When it comes to structures, it’s a big decision to pull the trigger on an evacuation,” Roy Mitchell, Boise Fire’s division chief of special operations, said at a press conference Monday. “We’ll do it when necessary, but we don’t do it unnecessarily, and we (don’t) feel it (is) at that point.”
Boise Fire Assistant Chief Brad Bolen added at Monday’s press conference that the Claremont Fire is the “first significant wildfire” in the Boise Foothills this year, asking community members to take precaution and follow all warnings when in the area as “the conditions make it ripe for more of this to happen.”
Temporary closures of public lands, roads and trails managed by the Bureau of Land Management remain in effect and are expected to be lifted on July 11. This includes lands, roads and trails between Bogus Basin Road, Idaho 21 and Boise Ridge Road. Private roads and roads managed locally are not included in this closure.
As the fire continues to spread, firefighters are facing challenges in portions of the Military Reserve.
“Due to the presence of unexploded military ordnance remaining from the area’s historic use as a military site, there are sections of the reserve that Boise Fire personnel cannot safely access,” Boise Fire wrote in a news release Monday. “Firefighters are working closely with partner agencies while adapting suppression strategies around these hazardous areas.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation and there is no estimated time for containment.
This weather-related story is brought to you by Pony Express Car Wash, Idaho's premier express car wash destination, renowned for its commitment to exceptional service and quality. Voted the No. 1 car wash company in Idaho for five consecutive years, we pride ourselves on delivering an unparalleled experience for every vehicle and customer. Our state-of-the-art facility utilizes name-brand soaps and cutting-edge equipment to ensure your car receives the ultimate clean. Established in eastern Idaho in 2019, Pony Express is proud to be a locally owned and operated company that caters to the unique car washing needs of our Idaho Friends and neighbors. We invite you to experience the difference at Pony Express, where your satisfaction is our ultimate goal.