Author: KIFI

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Summer power outages can be dangerous, especially when coupled with hot weather, and the Bannock County Office of Emergency Management is helping people get prepared in case the power goes out.

Risks of power outages increase during the summer with high winds and wildfires downing power lines and air conditioners and other electronics causing increased strain on power infrastructure. During power outages, hot weather can be potentially deadly for at-risk groups like the elderly and children.

Wes Jones, director of Bannock County’s Office of Emergency Management, said the most important thing people can do to prepare for a power outage is to stay informed with updates from emergency managers and utility providers and review resources to know what to do in the event of a power outage.

“What we want to do is make sure that [people] have that information, it’s readily available so that they get the front end,” said Jones. “How to be prepared, what to do during, and then after the fact–it’s those three areas of concern, and as we build that out for that preparedness it minimizes the mayhem and the chaos and the confusion.”

The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office app has a page dedicated to the Bannock County Office of Emergency Management complete with information for weathering a power outage.

Important tips to prepare for summer power outages include:

Make sure your household has a 72-hour kit stocked with food, water, and necessary medications.

Turn off breakers to minimize damage from potential power surges.

Keep freezers and refrigerators closed.

Have coolers handy for perishable food and medications.

If a power outage occurs during hot weather, people are advised to conserve cool air in the home by closing windows and blinds and, if necessary, seek shelter in an air-conditioned, public place.

For more information, you can download the free Bannock County Sheriff’s Office app from Google Play or the App Store, or visit the Bannock County Office of Emergency Management website.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Power is alerting customers to a recent increase in scams, with imposters contacting individuals by phone and going door-to-door, falsely claiming to represent the power company. These scammers are reportedly spoofing Idaho Power’s phone numbers and demanding immediate payment or attempting to extract personal information related to your home’s service.

Idaho Power reminds users that their employees will never:

Demand immediate payment over the phone or request payment using pre-paid cards.

Ask for payment for a defective meter.

Require same-day payment via pre-paid cards like Green Dot MoneyPak, Bitcoin, or QR codes.

To protect yourself from scammers, Idaho Power is directing customers to utilize My Account online or download the Idaho Power mobile app to monitor your bill, sign up for account alerts, and make secure payments. This familiarity will help you spot any unusual requests.

The power company is also directing customers to verify legitimate employees who arrive on your property. “Although there are situations where Idaho Power employees may need access to your property — with or without advance notice — they will arrive in logoed company vehicles and clothing or be able to present a company ID badge,” writes Idaho Power in a press release.

What to Do if You Suspect a Scam

If you are contacted by someone claiming to be from Idaho Power and anything seems suspicious, immediately call Idaho Power customer service at 208-388-2323 or 1-800-488-6151 (toll-free). Their customer care team can confirm any scheduled work activities for your address and help you verify the legitimacy of the contact.

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Seth Ratliff

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Power has scheduled a planned power outage for Wednesday, July 9, from 5 PM to 9 PM, impacting areas of Blackfoot located east of Blackfoot High School.

This outage will also require the City of Blackfoot to temporarily shut down one of its wells. To prevent any loss of water pressure within the system, city officials are urging residents to refrain from all irrigation use between 4 PM and 11 PM on Wednesday.

“To protect the pump, we will need to turn the well off prior to Idaho Power beginning their work,” the City of Blackfoot stated in a recent Facebook post. “We plan to bring the well back online as soon as Idaho Power completes their work and restores power to the affected area.”

Residents in the affected areas are being asked to plan accordingly for the temporary loss of electricity and be mindful of the irrigation restrictions to help maintain water pressure for the community.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Teton County Coroner’s Office:

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — The Teton County Coroner’s Office is requesting public assistance in locating the next of kin of Raymond Shepard, who was born on May 12, 1938.

If you have any information, please contact the Coroner’s office via phone at 307-249-6267 or by e-mail at bblue@tetoncountywy.gov.

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Noah Farley

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Over 70 million people in the U.S. traveled 50 miles or more for the 4th of July, even more than last year.

Some people might think gas prices would’ve gone up over the holiday weekend, but they were actually lower than last year—by 17 cents.

AAA Idaho says this might have happened because there was an offset between the people who traveled and those who stayed where they were for the holiday.

“And so those people were at home, barbecuing, didn’t need to drive as far,” said AAA Idaho Public Affairs Director, Matthew Conde. “So there might have been a little bit of an offset there where some people needed a little more fuel [and] some people needed a little less.”

Conde says we will probably see gas prices go up and down a little over the next few weeks, since a lot of people still have activities and vacations to take during the summer. He also says there are a few things happening to affect gas prices for the better.

“We’re in a position where the refineries are doing well,” Conde said. “Crude oil is relatively inexpensive. Some of those Middle East tensions are calming just a little bit. That translates to things being a little better at the pump too.”

Conde reminds drivers we are still in the hundred deadliest days. Some people feel like they can drive faster or less carefully during the summer, but risky driving behavior and increased speeds area recipe for disaster. So stay aware when traveling.

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Seth Ratliff

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (KIFI) — Coeur d’Alene fire officials have provided a reassuring update on the condition of Engineer Dave Tysdal, a firefighter injured in the tragic ambush on Canfield Mountain on June 29. Tysdal is recovering from a single gunshot wound to the back but was confirmed to be in stable condition after a third surgery on July 2nd.

The attack, which claimed the lives of two of Tysdal’s colleagues—Kootenai Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood and Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison—left Tysdal with significant injuries. The gunshot wound collapsed his left lung, damaged his clavicle, shattered several ribs, and caused spinal swelling.

According to a Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Facebook post, “Dave has a long road to recovery.” While Tysdal is currently unable to move his legs, doctors have noted that he is “communicating from the top to the bottom,” as stated in the same Facebook post. His fellow firefighters are hopeful that his mobility will return as the spinal swelling subsides.

Fire officials are asking for community support to assist Tysdal with his recovery. Donations can be made at any Interstate Bank or directly to the Red & Blue Foundation. For additional information, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) — As of Monday, July 7, the Garden Creek Fire, which burned thousands of acres on the Fort Hall Reservation near Blackfoot, has been declared 100% contained.

The blaze, which began on July 1, prompted a swift and coordinated response from multiple agencies. It led to evacuations of residents both on the reservation and in surrounding areas.

The Tribal Office of Emergency Management expressed its gratitude via a Facebook post, commending the Fort Hall Fire Department and its partnering agencies for their “support throughout this incident.”

In total, the Garden Creek Fire consumed approximately 5,418 acres. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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News Team

SALMON, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently accepting bids for a post and pole timber harvest in the McDevitt Creek area of Lemhi County. Located near Salmon, this 39-acre sale boasts approximately 17,000 lodgepole pine trees and an estimated 135,000 board feet of timber available for commercial harvest.

This sale isn’t just about timber; according to a recent press release, by removing merchantable timber, the BLM aims to:

Address overstocking: Reducing tree density to help prevent the spread of forest insects and diseases.

Mitigate wildfire risk

According to the BLM, the initiative also directly supports Executive Order 14225, “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production,” highlighting the BLM’s commitment to utilizing America’s abundant timber resources for economic benefit and job creation.

“America has significant timber resources, and the BLM is focused on using forests for timber and jobs that improve life for all Americans,” stated Martha Price, BLM Acting Idaho Falls District Manager.

How to Submit Your Bid

Interested parties are encouraged to submit written, sealed bids to the Salmon Field Office at:

1206 South Challis St. Salmon, ID 83467

The deadline for bid submission is July 22, 2025.

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News Release

The following is a press release from the Idaho Transportation Department:

DUBOIS, Idaho (KIFI) — Repairs and improvements are starting today on the first of 11 bridges along Interstate 15 north of Roberts toward the Montana state line. Crews will be replacing water damaged concrete and installing anti-skid surfacing to greatly extend the life of the bridges. Travelers should expect to see lane restrictions and lower speed limits where work is occurring through the summer and fall.

Crews are beginning today where the most significant repairs are needed, on the northbound lanes of Exit 184 at Stoddard Creek. Traffic will be routed off the bridge and on to the ramps, with travel affects much like those seen last year on the southbound lanes.

Stoddard Creek Road underneath I-15 is the access to popular camping areas and will be restricted to one lane or closed intermittently during construction. The closure will only be in place when passing under the bridge is not safe based on the work being done. When closed, motorists can proceed to Exit 190 at Humphrey, turn back around and head south to Stoddard Creek, then make a right turn toward camping areas.

From I-15 mileposts 136 to 189, repairs are also being done on ten other bridges and interchanges through the summer and fall. Work at Exit 180 at Spencer and Beaver Creek Overpass will continue for approximately six weeks. At the other locations, it will last just three to four days. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction on I-15 where these efforts are being completed.

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Curtis Jackson

CHALLIS, Idaho (KIFI) —The Bureau of Land Management is looking for public comment on proposed fee increases for campgrounds in the Challis area.

The Challis Field Office proposes to increase campground fees by $10 for campsites.

The draft states that the proposed increase aims to address issues related to increased visitor use, aging infrastructure, and rising operational and maintenance costs.

Click on the following link to review the draft plan.

https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2025-07/Challis%20Field%20Office%20Draft%20Business%20Plan_0.pdf

The comment period ends on August 8, 2025.

How to Submit Comments:

• Email: Send comments to BLM_ID_ChallisOffice@blm.gov

• In Person: Fill out a comment card and drop it in an Iron Ranger Fee Tube at participating campgrounds or stop by the Challis Field Office at 721 E Main Ave, Challis, ID

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