AERIAL VIDEO: Henry’s Creek Fire over 80 percent contained
Published at | Updated at
The following is taken from Monday updates from Great Basin Incident Command Team 7 and Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office on the Henry’s Creek Fire burning seven miles east of Idaho Falls.
IDAHO FALLS — Firefighters continue making excellent progress on all sections of the Henry’s Creek fire and containment is now 81 percent.
Winds are expected to come from the southwest today, and the area will experience warmer temperatures.
There are 407 personnel, along with engines, heavy equipment and aircraft helping to suppress the fire. Rehabilitation after the fire continues with dozers and hand lines.
In the coming days, citizens will see smoke columns as well as dust (smoke) devils coming out of the interior of the fire. Therefore, there is no need to report these smoke columns to 911. This is normal and will occur until either rain or snow completely puts the fire out.
Fire growth
Nearly 53,000 acres have been burned in the fire. Click here to view a map of the fire area.
Previous stories on the Henry’s Creek Fire
Your photos of the fire can be found here and here.
Video of community meeting held in Ririe on the fire
Road closures
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest Henrys Creek Fire Emergency Area, Road and Trail Closure put in effect Thursday has been rescinded. The incident commander for the fire feels that suppression efforts to date have reduced the need of this closure for public safety.
However, the road closure maintained by the sheriff’s office around the fire area — Keeps, Meadow Creek, Fall Creek, etc. — are still closed. Authorities are hopeful the closures in those areas will be lifted in the next couple of days as long as progress continues. have heavy fire equipment traffic and we want to prevent any crashes or incidents due to unnecessary traffic.
When roads are reopened, stay on the main roads and do not travel on fire roads or dozer lines. A large portion of the fire burned across private rangeland and deputies are asking that you respect private property and do not trespass. You could he charged with a crime if you choose to travel unauthorized across private lands. Also, by staying on designated main roadways you will help prevent further fire danger from vehicle exhaust and damage to habitat that has already been displaced by the fire.
What’s next
The team will focus on firefighter and public safety and full suppression of the fire. We ask that the public drive slowly through the incident whether it be the Incident Command Post or where we have resources at work.
If you fly, we can’t. Drones will stop all aerial resources on the fire. Aerial resources assist firefighters on the ground to suppress the fire. By stopping aerial assistance you are putting firefighters on the ground at risk.
For updated information throughout the day, visit this site and click on “Henry’s Creek Fire.” You can also go to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.