UPDATE: Henry’s Creek Fire now more than 10,000 acres
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UPDATE:
Firefighters continue suppression activities on the Henrys Creek Fire (formerly referred to as the Blackhawk Estates Fire) as it burns approximately seven mile east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. The fire is estimated to be over 10,000 acres and continues to grow, propelled by dry fuel, high temperatures and gusty winds.
“Weather has been a major concern on this fire,” said Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Incident Commander Cory Berkebile in a news release. “The Red Flag warning for winds today hampered our firefighting efforts.”
Extreme gusts drove the fire northeast at an increased rate of speed. The fire jumped the Bone and Sunnyside intersection late this afternoon and is pushing towards Willow Creek.
Bonneville County has issued evacuation notices to individuals living in the Sunnyside/Bone area down to Kepps Crossing. The Bonneville County Sheriff Department has asked individuals to stay away from the fire so firefighting operations are not impeded.
The following areas are closed:
- Intersection of Bone and Lincoln
- East Sunnyside from Crescent Drive
- Ririe Reservoir, including Blacktail
- Tex Creek
- Meadow Creek
- Fall Creek Road
- Long Valley Road
Structures are threatened at this time but none have been lost. No injuries have been reported. Numerous resources are fighting the blaze including federal, county and city engines. Skeleton crews will remain on scene during the night to try to make headway on the fire before temperatures and winds increase tomorrow.
UPDATE:
The Henry’s Creek Fire (formerly referred to as the Blackhawk Estates Fire) continues to burn east of Idaho Falls and Ammon. Increased temperatures and high winds are driving the fire northeast towards Ozone Road. The fire is estimated to be at least 1,600 acres in size, but that number will likely be exceeded when more accurate GPS mapping is available.
Bonneville County has issued evacuation notices to individuals living in the Sunnyside/Bone area down to Kepps Crossing area. The County has also asked that individuals stay away from the area and off Sunnyside and Bone Road so firefighting efforts are not impeded. Road blocks are currently in place and East Sunnyside from Crown Cresent Drive is closed.
Numerous resources are fighting the blaze including federal, county and city engines. Currently, Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center has four dozers, six engines, one handcrew and several smoke jumpers assisting with firefighting efforts. Several air resources were on scene this morning but were later grounded this afternoon due to high winds.
ORIGINAL STORY:
BONNEVILLE COUNTY — A fire burning in the Ammon foothills since Sunday has grown to 2,000 acres, according to Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center spokesman Lynn Ballard.
Ballard says four dozers, six engines, five smokejumpers and 20 firefighters are currently battling the Henry’s Creek Fire. At this time the fire is moving east from the Henry’s Canyon area with the strong winds.
The blaze broke out Sunday afternoon around 4 p.m. At one point, a section of the Blackhawk Estates subdivision was evacuated but residents were allowed back in their homes Sunday night.
Crews were hoping to begin air operations this morning to combat the fire but Ballard says they are waiting for winds to die down.
Officials have noticed a few drones in the air above the fire and they ask owners not to fly unmanned aerial vehicles as it can create problems for firefighters.
There has not been any injuries or structures damaged as of yet, but the situation is still ongoing at this time. The cause of the fire is still unknown. There are no residential areas threatened at the moment.
