© 2024 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Apple's latest iOS (17.4) is preventing our livestreams from playing. We suggest you download the free Boise State Public Radio app & stream us there while we work to troubleshoot the issue.
From air quality concerns to evacuations, wildfires impact pretty much everyone. We've rounded up some resources to make sure you're prepared as we head into Idaho's wildfire season.

Badger Fire Burns More Than 40,000 Acres In Sawtooth National Forest, Forcing Evacuations

Rachel Cohen/Boise State Public Radio
Diana Ochsner of the Red Cross is providing food to, and coordinating shelter for, evacuees at the drive-up aid site in Twin Falls.

The Badger Fire south of Twin Falls now covers more than 40,000 acres and is 0% contained.

Before 8 a.m. Friday morning, the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order for residents in about 75 households in Rock Creek Canyon. The evacuation area is in the South Hills of the Sawtooth National Forest. 

 

The American Red Cross set up an aid station outside Eastside Southern Baptist Church in Twin Falls, where it's getting contact information from people who've been evacuated and providing food and snacks.

 

"It’s very difficult to have congregate shelters where everyone sleeps in a dormitory, so for the most part we try to put people up in hotels when we have disasters like this during COVID,” said Diana Ochsner with the Red Cross. As of Friday afternoon, a few families had come by needing a place to stay.

 

The Twin Falls County Fairgrounds is also open for people to bring livestock and horses.

 

The fire area remains under a red flag warning until 9 p.m., with wind speeds expected to range from 15 to 35 miles per hour.

 

"The fire continues to grow each night, unchecked, due to the wind conditions we have," said Sam Hicks, the Incident Commander of the Great Basin Incident Management Team. 

 

Cooler temperatures, rain showers and possible thunderstorms are in the forecast for Friday evening.

 

Find reporter Rachel Cohen on Twitter @racheld_cohen 

Copyright 2020 Boise State Public Radio

As the south-central Idaho reporter, I cover the Magic and Wood River valleys. I also enjoy writing about issues related to health and the environment.

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.