Indian Butte Fire now 68 percent contained

UPDATE 9/17/18: The Bureau of Land Management reports the Indian Butte Fire, 8 miles northwest of Dubois, that started on Sept. 12 has burned 13,072 acres and is 68 percent contained.

Crews estimate with fire will be contained by Wednesday.

No structures are threatened, and the fire is creeping and smoldering.

There are no evacuations; however, Pleasant Valley Road and Dry Creek Road are closed. The Caribou-Targhee NF has enacted an Emergency Closure Order. You can view the closure order HERE.

The cause is still under investigation.

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UPDATE 9/16/18 9:44 P.M.: Firefighters have the Indian Butte Fire at 51 percent containment and are hoping to have full containment by Wednesday, September 19th.

Evacuations of hunting camps are finished.

Pleasant Valley Road and Dry Creek Road are closed to traffic, but it could open for local ranchers to move cattle.

The fire is expected to spread north moving into timber fuels.

The firefighters plan to continue line construction on the east and west flanks, with the main concern of the fire moving to the east to impact the town of Spencer as well as ranches along I-15.

UPDATE 9/16/18 1:44 P.M.: An emergency closure has been ordered and put into effect with Indian Butte Fire.

The area west of I15, south of Stoddard Creek and Pleasant Valley Rd and east of Indian Creek is closed.

The area is located within the proclaimed and administrative boundaries of the Dubois Ranger District of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest located in Clark County.

The purpose is protect the public and firefighters.

The order will remain in effect until September 30th or when rescinded.

UPDATE 8:02 P.M. The Bureau of Land Management reports the Indian Butte Fire is 12,209 acres.

The fire us up to 50 percent containment at this time.

Around 3:00 two sports outside of the current containment lines were discovered on the northwest corner of the fire.

Crews are working to contain sports.

One minor structure is threatened.

All evacuations of hunting camps are finished.

UPDATE 4:15 p.m. The Bureau of Land Management reports the Indian Butte Fire, 8 miles northwest of Dubois, has burned 13,174 acres and is 20 percent contained.

105 personnel are on the ground.

Officials estimate containment for Wednesday, Sept.19 at approx. 12:00 a.m.

The cause is still under investigation.

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UPDATE: 8:45 A.M. 9-14 The U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service report the Indian Butte Fire continued to burn actively through the night with erratic winds.

Firefighters are concentrating on the northern fire line as a primary concern. Officials are not sure if the fire has reached forest land yet. Additional aerial mapping was planned Friday morning.

Pleasant Valley Road and Dry Creek Road are closed to all traffic. The roads will open for those who need to remove campers and trailers until 10 a.m. Friday morning. People must check in with the Sheriff’s Office at the road head and provide officers with identification information before entering.

They said trailer and camper retrieval would be allowed dependent entirely on fire behavior. Roads could be close at any time to everyone if conditions are deemed to be too dangerous.

UPDATE 8:00 p.m. The Bureau of Land Management reports the Indian Butte Fire has grown to 11,250 acres and is 20 percent contained.

It started on private land and burned onto BLM and Forest land 9 miles northwest of Dubois in Clark County.

The fire is active and moving northeast with potential shifts in direction based evening winds.

BLM officials said the main concern is the fire moving to the east and impacting the town of Spencer as well as ranches on the I-15. Officials plan to continue line construction on the east and west flanks and continue evacuating hunting camps and assess what unattended hunting campers/trailers remain in the area

20 single residences and numerous hunting camps spread across the area are threatened.

Stoddard Creek campgrounds, trailers and hunters are being evacuated. BLM highly suggests people who have a trailer in the Dry Creek and Patelzick Creek retrieve it while they can.

Pleasant Valley Rd. and Dry Creek Rd. are closed to all traffic except for those retrieving their camp trailer, but this is subject to change depending on the movement of the fire.

The cause is still under investigation

8 engines, 2 dozers, 1 fuel tender, 1 hand crew, 1 water tender, 3 seats, 1 air attack and 5 overhead are fighting the fire.

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The Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center estimated the Indian Butte Fire, 9 miles northwest of Dubois, at 7,251 aces Thursday afternoon.

The fire started at around 7 p.m. Wednesday on private land and burned actively in sage and brush onto Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service land.

Firefighters said the fire was threatening structures on two ranches located about one-third of a mile northeast of the fire. Also threatened were RV campers in dispersed camping sites on BLM and forest land northwest of Spencer.

A large contingent of firefighters, including 8 engines, 2 dozers, 1 fuel tender, 1 hand crew, 1 water tenders, 1 air attack and 5 overhead aircraft were assigned to the fire. All crews were working to establish fire line. There is no estimated containment at this time.

You can view a map of the fire below.