Month: July 2026

Seth Ratliff

UPDATE: 11:55 PM

The Maze Fire evacuation order has been lifted in Madison County for residences on the west side of 6000 W. from Hwy. 33 up to 4000 N, according to Sergeant Tyson Beckley, of Madison County Dispatch.

The fire had consumed approximately 1,300 acres as of 9:26 PM.

Fifteen to 40 residences were affected by the evacuation order, said Janelle Washington, of the American Red Cross.

Residents are asked to remain in the “Ready” stage of “Ready, Set, Go,” meaning they are prepared to evacuate if fire conditions change overnight.

UPDATE: 8:55 PM

The following update has been provided by the Madison Fire Department:

At 3:35 pm, Madison Fire Department responded to a report of a brush fire, located at 9029 W. Hwy. 33, west of Rexburg.

Upon arrival, fire crews found a rapidly growing brush fire that had originated at the Sportsmans Club Gun Range, and mutual aid from surrounding counties was immediately requested.

The fire has been named the Maze Fire and is being managed by unified command with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Madison Fire Department (MFD). There are currently 20 wildland engines, 15 structure engines, 6 water tenders, 6 overhead (3 BLM, 3 MFD), 1 helicopter, 2 single engine air tankers, 2 large air tankers, and 2 bulldozers, with approximately 80 firefighters on scene. The fire is currently estimated to be 1,100 acres.

There is a current evacuation order in effect for residences on the west side of 6000 W. from Hwy. 33 up to 4000 N. A shelter has been established for those who have been evacuated and is located at the Henry’s Fork Stake Center, 1508 W. 3000 N. in Rexburg.

Containment is estimated for July 8th at 2200. There is no estimate yet for control of the fire within the containment lines. Please watch USWFS Idaho -Great Basin on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/USWFSGreatBasinIdaho/) for updated information.

“We very much appreciate our mutual aid partners from the surrounding counties and want to thank them for their quick response in helping attack this fast-moving fire,” said Chief Corey Child. “We also appreciate the cooperation of the public in continuing to avoid the area and for those in the evacuation area for following evacuation orders and all instructions from fire personnel and law enforcement.”

We ask that the public continue to avoid the area to allow firefighting personnel to have the full access they need to fight the fire, and to allow law enforcement personnel to enforce the evacuation orders and assist in controlling access to the perimeter of the fire. For those in the evacuation area, please continue to follow all evacuation instructions from fire personnel and law enforcement.

Please also remember that no drones should be near the fire. Firefighting aircraft may be forced to stop operations, delaying suppression efforts and putting lives and property at greater risk. If you fly, they can’t.

UPDATE: 8:30 PM

The “Maze Fire” has now grown to an estimated 1,100 acres per Wildcad.

UPDATE: 7:25 PM

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has issued an immediate evacuation order for residents living in the following areas near Rexburg and Plano:

Who needs to evacuate: Anyone living on 6000 W from Hwy 33 north to 4000 North, extending up to the Plano townsite.

Action required: Leave the area immediately.

Evacuation Shelter: An emergency shelter has been established at the Henry’s Fork LDS Stake Center (1508 W 3000 N, Rexburg, ID).

“Do NOT wait. Leave the area now and follow all directions from law enforcement and fire personnel,” says MCSO.

UPDATE: 6:25 PM

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — The Maze Fire west of Rexburg has grown to an estimated 900 acres, per WatchDuty.

If needed, an evacuation shelter has been established for families and residents who have been evacuated at the Henry’s Fork LDS Stake Center at 1508 W 3000 N, Rexburg, ID.

“If you have been displaced by the wildfire and need a safe place to go, the shelter is available to assist you,” said the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

For the latest updates on evacuations, click HERE.

UPDATE: 6:15 PM

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A fast-moving wildfire west of Rexburg has rapidly expanded to an estimated 600 acres, prompting local authorities to issue initial evacuation warnings for nearby residents.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is on the scene assisting fire crews. The Unified Sportsmen’s Club gun range has been completely evacuated, and the area is strictly closed to everyone except authorized emergency personnel.

According to data from the WildCad interagency fire system, the “Maze Fire” broke out sometime before 4:00 p.m. near the Unified Sportsmen’s Club (Sportsman Gun Range) off West Highway 33.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has issued a READY Status (Level 1 Alert) as part of the Ready, Set, Go Evacuation alert program for residents on 6000 W who are North of West Hwy 33 in Rexburg up to the Plano townsite.

“This is NOT an evacuation order. However, now is the time to prepare in case conditions change,” stated the Sheriff’s Office in a Facebook post.

How to Prepare:

Gather important documents, medications, pets, and essential belongings.

Make a plan for where you will go if an evacuation becomes necessary.

Stay alert for official updates.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to stay clear of the vicinity to ensure first responders can do their jobs safely. Members of the public are also strictly prohibited from flying drones anywhere near the wildfire.

“If you fly a drone near the fire, firefighting aircraft may be forced to stop operations, delaying suppression efforts and putting lives at greater risk. If you fly, they can’t,” states MCSO.

ORIGINAL:

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A fast-moving wildfire west of Rexburg is forcing potential evacuations in Madison County.

The blaze, dubbed the “Maze Fire,” began sometime before 4 p.m. near the Unified Sportsmen’s Club, according to WatchDuty.com.

Official reports estimate the fire has grown to around 150 acres in the last hour.

In an official Wireless Emergency Alert, the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire directed residents on 6000 W who are North of West Hwy 33 in Rexburg up to the Plano townsite to be READY to evacuate.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 has a crew en route and will provide updates live on air and online as we learn more.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Throughout the Independence Day weekend, firefighters were called out to multiple fires across the Bonneville County area. Even though the holiday has officially concluded, fire officials warn that the danger is far from over.

This year has been unusually hot and dry when shooting off fireworks. IFFD reports its crews were called out to six grass fires on July 3 alone, followed by a steady stream of small brush fires during and after the Fourth of July celebrations.

“People still have leftover fireworks that they want to use, so the risk is just as high, if not higher,” said IFFD Chief Johan Olsen. “We set up additional resources on and around the Fourth alongside our neighboring agencies. Now, we’re back to status quo staffing. Whenever we have these conditions, the likelihood of having multiple fires at the same time increases.”

The sheer volume of calls over the weekend pushed local resources to their limits. Olsen says if it weren’t for the teamwork of multiple nearby departments, local firefighters could have been swamped, and resources would have run low.

While the holiday is over, the IFFD is urging the community to remain highly vigilant as the dry season continues.

“I’d like to give just a plea for help from the community to to do their part and help the emergency providers and firefighters to be able to have to be able to work within their bandwidth,” Chief Olsen pleads. “Just be careful. Recognize that the conditions are the way they are. And ultimately, we don’t want anybody to end up in that situation where they’re having to be held accountable for property loss or, heaven forbid, loss of life.”

Residents are encouraged to check local fire regulations and guidelines. For more information on burn restrictions and fire safety in your area, click HERE.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the City of Pocatello Public Works:

POCATELLO, Idaho — Construction is now underway on the Johnny Creek Sanitary Sewer Project, an important infrastructure investment that will bring municipal sewer service to a portion of the Johnny Creek area that currently relies on individual septic systems.

The project is located along approximately one mile of Johnny Creek Road, between Wild Mountain Drive and Juniper Hill Road, west of Bannock Highway. Work includes installing approximately 0.8 miles of new 8-inch gravity sewer main, 24 manholes, and asphalt roadway repairs. Future phases are planned to extend sewer service into nearby neighborhoods.

Once complete, the project will provide a reliable municipal sewer connection for approximately 200 homes that currently rely on septic systems. It is also expected to reduce septic system discharge into local groundwater by an estimated 54,900 gallons per day, helping protect water quality while improving long-term public infrastructure.

The City extends its appreciation to Congressman Mike Simpson for his support in securing this critical infrastructure funding through the federal Community Project Funding process.

During construction, one lane of Johnny Creek Road will remain open at all times. Temporary traffic signals and flaggers will direct traffic as needed. The City appreciates the public’s patience as this important project moves forward. Construction is expected to continue through the summer and fall, with completion anticipated by the end of October 2026, weather and other unforeseen circumstances permitting.

The Johnny Creek Sanitary Sewer Project also advances the City’s Comprehensive Plan 2040 and its Environmentally Resilient vision. By expanding municipal sewer service, the project supports the plan’s goal of protecting and enhancing ground and surface water resources in the Portneuf River Valley while advancing the strategy of connecting more areas of the City to the sanitary sewer system to help safeguard local aquifers from contamination. Link: pocatello.gov/DocumentCenter/View/318/Comprehensive-Plan-2040-PDF#page=22

This project is funded through a $1.75 million grant awarded to the City of Pocatello by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act. As a recipient of federal funding, the City is required to comply with all applicable grant conditions and federal requirements. Procurement for this project is being conducted in accordance with Idaho Code Title 67, Chapter 28 (Purchasing by Political Subdivisions), the City of Pocatello Purchasing Policies, 2 CFR Part 200, and all other applicable EPA grant regulations. This investment supports critical infrastructure improvements that will enhance public services and benefit the Johnny Creek community for years to come.

Pocatello Projects: pocatello.gov/projects

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