Update 12:57 a.m.: The Ada County Sheriff's Department says people can now safely return home after a wildfire forced many to evacuate Tuesday night. Highway 16 is now open in both directions.
The Sheriff's Department estimates the fire has burned about 1,000 acres and is now fully contained. No homes were lost. Flames damaged a barn and an outbuilding.
Update 11:01 p.m.: The Ada County Sheriff's Department says homeowners on the west side of Highway 16 can return to their homes. Homeowners near Firebird, east of Highway 16, are being asked to stay away from the area.
The Sheriff's Department says the lightning-caused fire is now 80 percent contained.
Update 10:49 p.m.: The Highway 16 wildfire is now mostly contained, although it's unclear when the road will re-open. The Ada County Sheriff's Department says some evacuated homeowners are now being allowed to return to their houses.
#Highway16Fire now being called 70% contained. #BoiseBLMFire
— Bureau of Land Management Idaho Fire (@BLMIdahoFire) July 17, 2013
If you need to get to Emmett, Idaho 16 is closed. Take Idaho 55 to 52 as alternate route. Not sure how long 16 will be closed
— Ada County Sheriff (@AdaCoSheriff) July 17, 2013
Update 10:19 p.m.: The Ada County Sheriff's Department says a fire burning near Highway 16 north of Eagle is threatening homes and has caused evacuations. It's estimated at 500 acres was likely sparked by lightning.
Two outbuildings burned in Highway 16 fire as of 10:15 pm. About 50-to-100 residents asked to evacuate
— Ada County Sheriff (@AdaCoSheriff) July 17, 2013
This photo was taken at 8:37 p.m. off Highway 16:
Original Post: The Ada County Sheriff's Department says a fire burning near Highway 16 north of Eagle is threatening as many as 30 homes. It's estimated at 500 acres and began as a lightning storm moved through the area around 8 p.m.
Voluntary evacuations were issued in areas near Firebird Raceway. According to the Ada County Sheriff's Department, homes on Chaparral Road, Grandmason Place, Edgeview Lane, Deer Lane and Spangler Place have been evacuated. A shelter has been set up at the Eagle Christian Church near the intersection of Highway 16 and State Street.
Emergency scanner traffic from the area has included fire officials calling for more resources to battle what's been described as a grass fire.
Firefighters from the BLM, as well as agencies in Ada, Gem and Canyon counties have responded.
Drivers are being asked to avoid Highway 16 as firefighters work to contain the fire. Northbound Highway 16 is shut down at Beacon Light Road. Southbound travel is closed at the Gem County line.