5,000-acre Split Top Fire contained near Aberdeen, Cause still undetermined

ABERDEEN, Idaho (KIFI) — The Split Top Fire, which burned more than 5,000 acres of grass and sagebrush 14 miles northwest of Aberdeen over the weekend, is now fully contained, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho Fire Program confirmed this morning.

According to BLM Idaho Fire, a network of fuel breaks, a strategically managed strip of land where vegetation or brush is intentionally cleared away to create a barrier that slows he spread of wildfire, was "instrumental" in fighting the fire.

"The Big Desert area has been subject to very large wildfires in the past," states BLM Idaho Fire. "...And the BLM Idaho Falls fuels program has worked since 2012 to construct and maintain a network of fuel breaks along roads in the area."

Firefighting crews from multiple agencies responded to the incident, including the BLM, Bannock County Fire Department, and Power County Fire Department. No structures were threatened, and no evacuations were ordered.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.