Update 7:35 p.m. – A BLM spokesperson says the threat of damage to homes near highway 55 and the old Horseshoe Bend Road is greatly reduced. Five fire engines that responded from the cities of Eagle and Horseshoe Bend are being sent home. However the fire won’t be contained for at least 24 hours. That means it could flare up again and spread. BLM crews will continue to work on hot spots through the night.
5:52 p.m. - A brush fire is burning between Boise and Horseshoe Bend. The fire quickly burned one hundred acres just north of Horseshoe Bend Hill Thursday afternoon. About a dozen homes were evacuated and one barn was damaged. Brandon Hampton with the Boise BLM office says people can’t return home yet but things look better.
“Currently the risk to homes has been mitigated because we had firefighters on the ground so quickly,” Hampton says. “Fire fighters from Eagle, Horseshoe Bend, and Boise BLM actually suppressed the fire quite rapidly. Therefore the stress and threat to the homes has greatly been reduced.”
Hampton says the fire is not yet contained but there are no more active flames. He says it could flare up again under high winds expected in the area. Red flag warnings are in place though the night. Highway 55 is open but crowded with fire vehicles.