Evacuation order lifted in Madison County; Maze Fire grows to 1,300 acres

UPDATE 11:45 p.m.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office lifted the evacuation order west of Rexburg around 11:45 p.m. Monday.

However, deputies tell EastIdahoNews.com that residents in the area should remain vigilant given the fire is still in the area. Please continue to monitor official updates, have a plan in place, and be ready to leave if conditions warrant, deputies say.

As of 11 p.m., the fire was measuring at 1,300 acres with containment not expected until late Wednesday.

Firefighters are expected to work on the blaze throughout the night.

UPDATE 9 p.m.

The following is a news release from Madison Fire Department.

At 3:35 pm, Madison Fire Department responded to a report of a brush fire, located at 9029 W. Hwy. 33, west of Rexburg.

Upon arrival, fire crews found a rapidly growing brush fire that had originated at the Sportsman’s Club Gun Range, and mutual aid from surrounding counties was immediately requested.

The fire has been named the Maze Fire and is being managed by unified command with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Madison Fire Department (MFD). There are currently 20 wildland engines, 15 structure engines, six water tenders, six overhead (3 BLM, 3 MFD), one helicopter, two single-engine air tankers, two large air tankers, and two bulldozers, with about 80 firefighters on scene. The fire is currently estimated to be 1,100 acres.

There is a current evacuation order in effect for residences on the west side of 6000 West from Idaho Hwy. 33 up to 4000 North. A shelter has been established for those who have been evacuated at the Henry’s Fork Stake Center, 1508 West 3000 North in Rexburg.

Containment is estimated for July 8th at 10 p.m. There is no estimate yet for control of the fire within the containment lines.

“We very much appreciate our mutual aid partners from the surrounding counties and want to thank them for their quick response in helping attack this fast-moving fire,” said Chief Corey Child. “We also appreciate the cooperation of the public in continuing to avoid the area and for those in the evacuation area for following evacuation orders and all instructions from fire personnel and law enforcement.”

We ask that the public continue to avoid the area to allow firefighting personnel to have the full access they need to fight the fire, and to allow law enforcement personnel to enforce the evacuation orders and assist in controlling access to the perimeter of the fire. For those in the evacuation area, please continue to follow all evacuation instructions from fire personnel and law enforcement.

Please also remember that no drones should be near the fire. Firefighting aircraft may be forced to stop operations, delaying suppression efforts and putting lives and property at greater risk. If you fly, they can’t.

Get the latest updates on the fire by following it on Facebook here.

UPDATE 8:30 p.m.

The Maze Fire had grown to over 1,100 acres as of 8:30 p.m. Monday, according to the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center. Evacuations orders are still in effect.

Stay with EastIdahoNews.com for updates!

UPDATE 7:30 p.m.

The Maze Fire had grown to over 900 acres as of 7:30 p.m. Monday, according to the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center.

As a result, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation order for residents on the west side of 6000 West from Idaho Highway 33 north to 4000 North in Madison County. Officials tells residents to “LEAVE NOW” and “DO NOT WAIT.”

An evacuation shelter has been set up at the Henry’s Fork Stake Center at 1508 West 3000 North in Rexburg.

Stay with EastIdahoNews.com for updates!

UPDATE 6 P.M.

The Maze fire at 9029 West Idaho Highway 33 west of Rexburg is now 600 acres, according to the Watch Duty app.

Photos sent to us by an EastIdahoNews.com user show a giant plume of smoke is visible within Rexburg city limits.

Around 5 p.m., the Madison County Sheriff’s Office reported on its Facebook page that the blaze prompted the evacuation of the Unified Sportsmen’s Club shooting range, which is in close proximity. Residents on 6000 West north of West Highway 33 are on alert to prepare to evacuate if the fire spreads.

The sheriff’s office is asking the public to avoid the area.

“Thank you for your cooperation and for helping keep our first responders safe. We will provide updates as more information becomes available,” the sheriff’s office wrote on Facebook.

ORIGINAL STORY

REXBURG – Multiple fire agencies are battling a small desert fire west of Rexburg on Monday afternoon.

Madison County Fire Department Chief Troyce Miskin tells EastIdahoNews.com it started around 3:45 p.m. on U.S. Bureau of Land Management property near Beaver Dick Park and the Unified Sportsmen’s Club shooting range at 9029 West Idaho Highway 33.

Just before 5 p.m., Miskin estimates the fire is about 100 acres. The Watch Duty app, a real-time wildfire and flood tracking alert platform, reports it is 150 acres. The app is calling it the Maze Fire.

The cause has not been determined.

On its Facebook page Monday afternoon, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office says that although an evacuation order is not in place, deputies are urging people on 6000 West north of West Highway 33 in Rexburg to be prepared to evacuate if the blaze gets closer.

“The gun range has been evacuated, and only authorized fire personnel are permitted in the area,” the Madison County Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page around 5 p.m. “We ask the public to avoid the area to allow firefighters and emergency responders to safely do their jobs.”

Firefighters are still working to put it out, as of 5 p.m.

In addition to the Madison Fire Department, firefighters from Central Fire District in Jefferson County and the Roberts Fire District are there. Air and ground crews with the BLM are also on scene.

EastIdahoNews.com will continue to monitor the blaze and provide updates as we receive them.