Smoke fills air from Bingham County fires

Evacuees are allowed back home after the Bingham County fires broke out Friday afternoon.

Seven homes were evacuated Friday evening because of three fires were burning east of Blackfoot, according to Shoshone-Bannock Tribe spokeswoman Randy’L Teton.

Smoke from the fires was filling the air in the Idaho Falls and into the upper valley of Rigby and Rexburg on Saturday.

According to the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center, as of Sunday, the Stephens Flat Fire had burned 850 acres and was 90 percent contained.

The EIIFC said East and Ridge fires combined to burn at 12,000 acres and is 30 percent contained and is on tribal lands.

According to Idaho Power, electricity has been restored to the homes north of the Lincoln Creek and Little Indian intersection. Power had not yet been restored to homes in the area south of that intersection.

The Fort Hall Fire Department, BLM/Forest Service, BIA (Wild Land Fire crews), and Fort Hall Transportation are currently fighting the fires.

Emergency crews said these fires were lightning-caused. Local News 8’s VIPIR Radar confirmed the recent lightning strikes in the area.

The Lincoln Creek Community Center has been opened for the staging area for all emergency services.