08/19/08

Federal fire managers expect colder temperatures to move across the state later this week and help put out a series of small fires burning in Idaho's backcountry north of the Salmon River.

Lighting storms helped ignite several small fires in remote regions of the state on last night. But gusty winds and quick-burning grasses are being blamed for the largest blaze burning in Idaho, which is the North Minidoka Fire.

Crews with the Federal Bureau of Land Management are worked to contain the fire that quickly spread to 50 square miles of remote desert near Minidoka. The blaze was about half that size when it started yesterday. Containment was expected by 8 o’clock tonight. Estimated control, when all resources will leave the fire scene, is for 9:30 a.m. Tomorrow morning

Bureau spokeswoman Sky Buffat says the fire spread quickly because of an abundance of dry grasses that burn more rapidly than other vegetation, such as sagebrush. The agency is still investigating the cause of the fire.

The Pagari Bridge Fire was contained at noon today with the blaze under control at 7 this evening. It is calculated that the fire burned nearly 674 acres north east of Richfield – along Highway 75 near mile marker 189

The Paymaster Fire began around noon Tuesday, located four miles west of the Craters of the Moon Visitor Center. Currently THE ESTIMATED SIZE IS 120 acres.

Resources include:
Two engines
Eight smokejumpers
One helicopter,
One Single Engine Air Tanker
Air attack “eyes in the sky” plane

A water tender from the Carey Rural Fire Department is assisting as well. Containment WAS estimated for 8:00 o’clock tonight. Additional resources from Idaho Falls, Northern Utah, Elko, Salmon and Boise are assisting with these fires, as well as with standbys for potential new starts.