Fires burn in Bannock County

Three fires burning in the Chubbuck-Pocatello area is keeping fire crews very busy Monday night.

A brush fire prompted the evacuation of people on the Fort Hall Reservation, and fire crews also responded to a fire on Satterfield in Pocatello and then to a fire on Yellowstone Highway in Chubbuck.

Bannock County Commissioner Howard Manwaring said a state of emergency was issued because of the fires. The declaration help give emergency crews the necessary funds and resources to fight the fires, if needed.

The Fort Hall blaze is at the end of Siphon Road.

Search and rescue and fire crews, including the Chubbuck and Fort Hall fire departments, are on the scene.

Shortly after Fort Hall fire was reported, neighbors living on Satterfield were helping fight the flames with garden hoses. No one was evacuated because of the fire, and it appeared to be mostly smoldering at about 6:15 p.m.
While crews were battling those two blazes, in Chubbuck, a fire started burning abandoned buildings and cars in a salvage yard behind the 5-Mile Inn on Yellowstone Hwy.

Bannock Co. Sheriff said they don’t know how the fires started, but think they were all man-caused. And they’re not sure if they are connected or just a coincidence they started nearly the same time.

Manwaring said one person was taken to the hospital because of smoke inhalation.