BLM finds new, temporary home in Challis

The Bureau of Land Management Challis Field Office has found a new temporary home. BLM said the office will move to an old Middle School Building at 721 E. Main Avenue, Suite 8, in Challis. Phone lines, e-mail, and normal office hours will be temporarily disrupted the week of May 8 as the office is physically moved. “We were fortunate to work with the school district to secure a more permanent location at the old middle school site off Main Street,” said BLM field manager Todd Kuck. “The school district has been great to work with as we’ve developed plans for our transition.” The field office staff will stay in the building for at least 2 to 3 years until a permanent location is identified. The field office has been in temporary quarters since a fire destroyed the agency’s office last October. The Custer County Sheriffs Office said the fire was reported at 1:54 a.m. October 4, 2016, by the Challis Volunteer Fire Department. The fire apparently started in a shop area south end of the building.The fire department put out the fire quickly, but the Bureau of Land Management building was still heavily damaged.