28 July 2012, fire fighters are still busy fighting numerous wild fires throughout eastern & southeastern Idaho. July is the official start to the wildfire season in Idaho, but so far 58 fires have raged since the beginning of the year!
27July 2012, new fire Fort Hall Reservation (east of Blackfoot), as seen from tens of miles to the southwest, looking northeast from the Simplot Don Plant.
According to the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center (EIIFC) more acres have burned this year than in 2011, 2010 & 2009 combined! And the official fire season is just starting!
On 27 July 2012, new fires popped up in the Fort Hall reservation northeast of Pocatello (east of Blackfoot). They’re called the Ridge Top, Stevens Peak, East Fire and Gibson Creek fires. Together they’ve burned 8,000 acres (3,237.4 hectares) in less than one day.
Fire officials blame the ongoing, 10+ years drought in Idaho, something the mainstream media seems to ignore when it comes to reporting drought conditions in the United States.
Local fire officials are concerned because most of the fires have yet to hit the tinder dry forests: “Our lower elevations right now are fairly critical. Our upper elevations in the timber, our large fuel, and the trees are drier than normal…”-Lynn Ballard, U.S. Forest Service eastern Idaho
EAST IDAHO WILDFIRES 2012: MAINTENANCE DAY FOR SKYCRANE FIRE FIGHTER @ POCATELLO AIRPORT