BLM: “We do believe it is human caused” Henry’s Creek Fire 17,000 acres

UPDATE 8/23/2016 7:25 am: The Henry’s Creek Fire is now estimated at 17,000 acres in size and is being listed as 15% contained. Two Cabins have burned because of the fire. During a briefing Tuesday morning, TheBureau of Land Management said lightning did not start the fire and they believe it is human caused after a lightning map did not show any lightning where it started. They are also asking people to keep their drones grounded so air crews can safely operate. Ririe Reservoir and Blacktail Park are closed today.

UPDATE 8/22/2016 10:00 pm: Residents in the area of Meadow Creek Road are asked to be on alert as the Henry’s Creek Fire continues to spread along Blacktail and Meadow Creek towards highway 26. The Bonneville County Sheriff’s office asks people to be ready to evacuate if the fire moves towards homes.

UPDATE 8/22/2016 8:55 pm: The Henry’s Creek Fire has now burned over 10,000 a/cres and is continuing to grow. The fires growth is very rapid as it burns through dry fuel propelled by gusty winds.

“Weather has been a major concern on this fire,” said Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Incident Commander Cory Berkebile. “The Red Flag warning for winds today hampered our firefighting efforts.”

An evacuation order is still in effect for people living in the Sunnyside/Bone area down to Kepps Crossing. No structures have been destroyed but some are threatened at this time.

The following areas are also closed: intersection of Bone and Lincoln, East Sunnyside from Crescent Drive, Ririe Reservoir(including Blacktail), Tex Creek, Meadow Creek, Fall Creek, Fall Creek Road and Long Valley Road.

Crews are continuing to fight the fire to try and get ahead of the fire before temperatures and winds pick up again Tuesday.

UPDATE 8/22/2016 5:00 pm: Sgt. Bryan Lovell with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s office says that teams are now estimating the fire at over 3,500 acres. The BLM still has the official count at 1,600 acres but says the number is likely much larger but are waiting for new GPS estimates.

UPDATE 8/22/2016 4:25 pm: Bonneville County is now issuing evacuation notices to individuals living in the Sunnyside/Bone area down to Kepps Crossing area. An evacuation center has been set up at the Calvary Baptist Church at 785 East 1st Street in Idaho Falls. 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.

The fire is still listed at 1,600 acres but that number is expected to grow by the time GPS estimates of the fire can be made.

Fire officials said they’ve also spotted multiple drones flying in the area. While they did not stop aerial support of the fires, drones can be a serious hazard to firefighters and crews flying over fires. If you own a drone do not fly them over the burning area.

No structures have been lost to the fire at this time and no injuries have been reported.

UPDATE 8/22/2016 3:31 pm: The Henry’s Creek Fire is now burning very close to Sunnyside Road. The fire has already burned across Bone Road and is burning near the Peterson Hill Landfill. Crews are at the site actively trying to stop the fire before it gets to and crosses Sunnyside Road.

Air support crews are now making drops on the fire in an effort to slow its progress.

Sunnyside Road has been closed while crews fight the fire. Everyone is asked to avoid the area so crews can fight the fire.

UPDATE: 8/22/16 1:50 p.m.

The Henry’s Creek fire has now grown to an estimated 1,600 acres and is roughly 50 percent contained. Bureau of Land Management spokesperson Sara Wheeler said firefighters are setting up fire lines in an attempt to steer the fire to the northeast and away from any structures. No structures are believed to be threatened at the present time.

UPDATE 8/22/16 11:10 a.m.

A unified command, including the Idaho Falls Fire Department and Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center, is working to control a fire in the Henry’s Creek area east of Ammon.

According to Caribou-Targhee National Forest spokesman Lynn Ballard the fire was estimated at 1,200 acres Monday morning. Federal agencies had 4 dozers, 5 engines, and 5 smokejumpers working with the Idaho Falls Fire Department.

Fire Department Chief Dave Hanneman said the goal was to try to stop the fire before it reached the Taylor Mountain area. He expected air operations to begin on Monday. He said the fire was burning on private land through the night, but was headed towards federal jurisdiction.

Heavy winds were forecast for the area Monday afternoon.

Update 8/22/2016 6:15 a.m. The Henry’s Creek Fire is estimated at 900 acres. BLM said five engines and two bulldozers are working on the fire. No evacuations at this time.

Update 8/21/2016 11 p.m.: Fire still burning Sunday night in the foothills south of Ammon.

The biggest worry is if the wind picks up and move the fire up a canyon on the east side. The winds were stronger earlier this evening that flared up the flames, Sheriff Paul Wilde said.

Fire crews still don’t know what started the fire.

Update 8/21/2016 8:35 pm: The Bonneville County Sheriff’s office say people who were asked to evacuate homes in Blackhawk may now return to their homes. The sheriff’s office would like to thank the public for their cooperation and assistance.

Winds have pushed the fire to the east but crews are still working to fully contain it. Fire crews from the Idaho Falls/Bonneville Fire District, Shelley/Firth Fire, BLM Fire, and other resources are still in the area working and they ask that you stay away from the area.

UPDATE 8/21/2016 7:55 p.m: Bonneville County sheriff’s office says the fire that was advancing towards homes is now contained but continues to spread in the north and east. At this time the sheriff’s office does not believe that the homes are threatened by the fire.

People living in the immediate area are still asked to be prepared to leave if the fire turns again.

The Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue Units are making preparation in case the fire turns back towards homes. Windy conditions make predicting where the fire will spread difficult.

Everyone that hasn’t been called in to assist with the fire is asked to stay away from the area to allow crews to work as safely and efficiently as possible. To help facilitate this traffic is shut down starting at 65th South 45th East. Only people with home in the area will be let past the road block.

UPDATE: 8/21/16 6:15 p.m.

Fire personnel and Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office are in the Henry Creek and Blackhawk Rd. area due to a brush fire.

Part of the Blackhawk Subdivision is being evacuated; others in the area are advised to be ready to leave if necessary.

The sheriff’s office asks anyone who does not need to be in the area to stay away.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Fire crews in Bonneville County are responding to a brush fire burning in the foothills near the Blackhawk Estates area.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office has notified people in the area to be prepared in case they need evacuate, but no evacuations have been ordered.

We are working to get more information on this fire and will update this story when information is released.