That's my Dad's hometown! Is that fire out on Highway 16 finally out? Saw that Ada Co (probably Gem Co) Sherriff's were blocking traffic out there. Seems like there's always at least one fire sometimes more every summer in that end of the Valley.
My wife and one of my daughters and her three kids were diverted on to the old Pearl Road around the fire this afternoon. I’ll watch the news at 10 and see if it is out now. grass fires out there are not uncommon, particularly along G6.
A pickup truck hauling a flat-bed trailer full of hay bales started a fire about 2:45 p.m. Thursday on the east side of Idaho 16 two miles north of the Firebird Raceway, prompting officials to close the highway in both directions.
The fire, between Emmett and Eagle, was put out by 4:30 p.m. Thursday and the road reopened. But officials said it could be as late as 11 p.m. Thursday before the fire is completely controlled.
In addition to the grass fire burning along the highway, there are also bales of hay burning in the road and on a trailer parked on Idaho 16.
The 100-acre brush fire -- dubbed the Mile Marker 8 fire -- brought out firefighters from seven agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, Boise National Forest, three cities and two counties. It spread so quickly, a helicopter and a single-engine air tanker was used to help douse the flames.
Brandon Hampton, BLM spokesman, said Thursday night they were still trying to determine how the hay bales caught fire..