UPDATE: Rim Fire now 60 percent contained

UPDATE 6/11/18 8:00 a.m. The Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center reports the Rim Fire is 60 percent contained.

The fire destroyed one historic structure at Massacre Rocks State Park.

As of Sunday night, the fire was estimated at 873 acres. Wind remains a concern, but firefighters believe no new growth is anticipated. Crews have established containment lines around the fire.

Firefighting teams will remain on the fire for the next day, at least. They expect full containment by June 12.

UPDATE 6/10/18 11:31 AM

The Bureau of Land Management estimates the fire to be 500 acres, and the cool temperatures have slowed the progress of the fire. There are still actively burning juniper patches, crews are focusing on reducing fire activity on the east and west side of the perimeter to keep the fire along the rim of the canyon and prevent it from dropping down into the river corridor.

They have been experiencing challenges with this fire.

“Some of the challenges we’re facing obviously, in addition to the terrain, is the wind. This wind advisory is last I heard is still going to be in effect until 9:00 tonight and we’ve been dealing with it all day and you can tell the fire is just kind of a very long and skinny fire and has been burning with the wind,” says Kevin Conran, Fire Prevention/Investigation for BLM.

The dry grass is also playing a factor.

“I think it was a little surprising that it burned as actively as it did with the recent rain that we have and things look kind of green but you can tell probably in the absence of snowpack over the winter a lot of last year’s dead grass is pretty lofty and it’s carrying the fire pretty well,” says Conran.

No structures are in danger at this time and the cause is being investigated.

Original:

A brush fire is burning west of American Falls near Massacre Rocks State Park.

The fire began Saturday afternoon and has burned over several acres north of the Snake River.

Firefighters say heavy winds are pushing the fire larger.

So far it’s unknown if the fire is threatening any buildings.

Bureau of Land Management is calling it the Rim Fire and was reported around 2 p.m. Saturday.

It’s burning in grass, brush and juniper.

The BLM said they are trying to building a solid line around the fire before a cold front arrives later Sunday morning.

They said steep terrain and an abundance of lava is making it difficult to fight the fire.

Smoke is said to be heavy for those driving along Interstate 86 and drivers are urged to drive with caution.

Power County will help jet boat firefighters across the river into some of the more difficult areas, they said.

It’s unknown when the fire will be controlled.

A smaller brush fire happened earlier in Bannock county on Saturday.

The Rock Creek Fire started about two miles southeast of Inkom. It started from a man welding.

High winds and steep terrain pushed the fire up the ridge and threatened a couple of home. It burned about 36 acres before being contained at 9 p.m. Saturday.

It expected to fully controlled by 12 p.m. Sunday.