BLM: Take extra precautions to prevent a wildfire during August Total Solar Eclipse

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is issuing a warning weeks ahead of the total solar eclipse set to roll through Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming on August 21.

“It is our driest time of year in Idaho around the end of August, and we have an increase in wildfires,” Kelsey Griffee, public information officer for the, BLM said.

High estimates predict upwards of 500,000 people will be in the area to watch the once-in-a-lifetime event.
This influx of visitors into fire-prone public lands within the eclipse’s path of totality could result in an increase of human-caused fire starts while making it harder for fire personnel to suppress these wildfires.

“While the eclipse lasts for minutes, many people will be recreating for days before and after the event,” said Kevin Conran, fire mitigation and education manager with the BLM Idaho Falls District. “We want to ensure that thousands of Idahoans and visitors have a positive and enjoyable experience while keeping wildfire safety in mind.”

Griffee said so far this year, crews have responded to multiple fires each week the past month. The BLM said a majority of them are human-caused, some by fireworks.

“It is an exciting natural phenomenon that is happening, and what we want to remind people is fireworks are not allowed on public lands at all,” Griffee said. “Please do not shoot them off.”

According to a BLM press release, the agency is taking preventive steps to educate residents and eclipse chasers about this concern. The Menan Buttes are of much concern because of the dry land and fire activity already seen in the area.

“We are going to station our crews strategically across the area, especially in the area where the total solar eclipse is occurring,” Griffee said. “The concern is, we don’t know where the fire could start and we need people to move aside for us to get by; we need people to be smart and call 911 right away.”