I-84 at Mountain Home reopens, Benwalk Fire continues to burn

A brush fire in Elmore County is burning close to Interstate 84 and forced the road to be shut down Monday evening, KBOI 2News reports.

The Bureau of Land Management says the Benwalk fire is about 15,000 acres in size, and burning north of I-84 between Mountain Home and Glenns Ferry.

The road was closed in both directions near exit 99 while crews battled the blaze. It reopened around 1 a.m. Tuesday.

BLM says the fire is threatening structures north of the interstate near exit 95 in Mountain Home and they have crews in place to help protect them. As a precaution, businesses and homes in the area have been evacuated.

The American Red Cross has set up a shelter at the Elks Lodge in Mountain Home for people who have been evacuated. It is located at 325 South 3rd West.

BLM says fire crews from Oregon and California are headed to the Gem State to help fight the fires.

BLM says it is responding to eleven new fires in the Boise district caused by recent storms, four of which have already been controlled.

Officials say all the fires were caused by lightning.