UPDATED: Crews make progress on Powerline fire

Tuesday’s fire plan will include dispatching engines and crews to work the eastern side of the fire in conjunction with helicopters dropping water to secure open line in the area. The southern end of the fire has the greatest amount of resources in an effort to secure it against high winds and possible thunderstorm activity. The southern end has multiple engines, hand crews, water tenders, and a dozer to secure the fire’s edge. A community meeting is set for 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Arbon Elementary School, 4405 Arbon Valley Highway. UPDATE: 8-8-17 New surveys indicate the Powerline fire is now 52,014 acres and is 25 percent contained. Firefighters were successful in keeping pace with the fire’s growth Monday. Several firefighting crews arrived on the fire Monday more than 400 personnel are now assigned to it. Hotshot crews began building hand line in places bull dozers couldn’t access on the eastern flank. Fire command now says most of the mop and containment is secure on the eastern flank and containment is secure on the entire northwest quarter of the perimeter. There were no new evacuations ordered Monday and residents that evacuated along the Arbon Valley were allowed back to their homes Monday. Power was restored to the area as Rocky Mountain Power repaired lines and poles. The Arbon Valley Road was expected to open to the public Tuesday morning. The firefighting team includes 8 hotshot crews, 2 type 2 crews, 23 engines and tenders, 7 dozers, and 7 helicopters. UPDATE 08/07/17 1:00 p.m. – According to the Interagency Incident Command Team, evacuees from the northern perimeter down to about Rattlesnake Road will be allowed back in their homes Monday. Residents of Pauline still under evacuation order. Incident Command said the southern edge of the fire between Arbon Valley Highway and Mink Creek is the most active portion at this time. The dozer on the west side of the fire west of the Arbon Valley Highway is holding well. Command also said the dozer line built Sunday running east to Michaud Creek was successful. A community meeting on the fire will be held Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 8 p.m. at Arbon Elementary School at 4405 Arbon Valley Highway. UPDATE: 8:55 A.M. 8-7-17 The Power Line fire southwest of Pocatello is now measured at 51,051 acres. The Bureau of Land Management said the fire is 25 percent contained. The fire has advanced onto the Caribou Targhee National Forest and crossed the Bannock County line about 4 miles southwest of Pocatello.
Closures are in effect for Arbon Valley Highway, Michaud Creek Road, Mink Creek Road, and Trail Creek Road today. Campers along the south fork of Mink Creek were evacuated today along with residents of Pauline. Approximately 20 homes were threatened by the fire today. Firefighters will stay through the night protecting homes. For evacuations and closures contact county law enforcement. Firefighters have kept the fire from spreading into Trail Creek. Burn out operations wee conducted to protect the town of Pauline. No structures were lost Sunday. Multiple firefighting resources are assisting in containment of this fire. There are currently 26 engines, 4 water tenders, 6 dozers, and 8 handcrews on scene. Air resources are based out of Pocatello Tanker Base. One very large air tanker, 1 heavy air tanker, 7 single air tankers, and 4 helicopters supported the fire today. Over 160,000 gallons of retardant has been dropped on the fire. A Type II Basin Incident Command Team will take over fire management Monday.

UPDATE 08/06/17 1:50 p.m.: The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office said it has no evacuations in place for now for the county.

The sheriff’s office said the Mink Creek area is closed at the Bannock County-Power County line. Trail Creek is also closed off at the cattle guard.

The Power County Sheriff’s Office said Arbon Valley Highway is still closed from Saturday – from Rattlesnake Road to Ramsay.

UPDATE 0806/17 1:00 p.m.: The BLM still estimates the fire at around 30,000 acres. No additional structures were burned overnight. Fire managers said the fire burned aggressively Saturday night and has now moved into Caribou-Targhee National Forest land. The fire is west of Kinport Peak, just past the Bannock County line. It is approximately four miles southwest of Pocatello and is continuing to burn northeast. According to the BLM, it is working its way up western slopes and is still burning is grass, brush and juniper.

Fire crews are working Sunday to keep it from the Trail Creek area.

The Great Basin Incident Command team arrived Sunday and is now taking over command of the fire.

UPDATE 08/05/17 7:10 p.m.: According to the BLM, the fire is now at 30,000 acres in size. The fire is human caused and is still being investigated.

Fire managers said the fire is actively burning northeast toward the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. The fire is being driven by strong winds in the area.

Six outbuildings have been burned, about five homes are in the immediate vicinity of the fire. Firefighters are working to fight 35-40 foot flames.

There are now 15 engines, six water tenders, four dozers, and two hand crews on scene. There are also three single air tankers, two heavy air tankers and one large air tanker.

Brook Chadwick’s Type II Great Basin Incident Command Team has been called in and activated and will take command of the fire starting Sunday afternoon.

ORIGINAL STORY: Firefighters are working to contain a wildfire Southeast of American Falls that started Friday evening.

The Powerline fire is estimated at 3,000 acres, burning west of Pocatello near the Arbon Valley Highway.

The BLM says nine structures were threatened, no word yet if they were damaged.

According to a press release from BLM, “The Powerline Fire was extremely active through the night. The fire crossed the Arbon Valley Highway and burned at least one power pole. Idaho Power was on scene to fix the downed powerlines. Structures were threatened and firefighters conducted burn out operations to protect structures from the advancing fire.”

Power County Sheriff’s deputies did order some evacuations in the area. No word on how many people were evacuated.

The BLM said there are 14 engines, three dozers, four water tenders and two handcrews on scene. Crews from several agencies including BLM, Fort Hall, Chubbuck and Pocatello are on scene. Air resources were requested and began arriving Saturday around 11 a.m. to begin working the fire.