Update: South Mink Creek fire contained

Update: The South Mink Creek fire has now been fully contained. Officials with the BLM say that firefighters are now working to put out any hot spots. After that work is done firefighters will monitor it the rest of the day and Thursday.

A road closure is in place for public and firefighter safety. South Fork Mink Creek Road (Forest Road 163) is closed from the junction of the Bannock Highway (South Mink Creek Road) to the Forest boundary. This closure will likely remain in place until the fire is out.

Original story: The East Idaho Interagency Fire Center is still investigating the cause of the South Mink Fire, which started Monday afternoon in the Mink Creek drainage south of Pocatello.

Firefighters expected to have the fire contained Tuesday. It was estimated at 12 acres Tuesday afternoon and was not expected to grow outside the fire perimeter.

Once the fire is contained, firefighting resources will remain until the fire is completely out, which may take a couple of days.

Fire danger is “very high” across eastern Idaho.

So far this year, the fire center has responded to 36 fires that have burned a total of 2,406 acres. Only 4 of the 36 fires were caused by lightning.