Category: kifi-local-news

Seth Ratliff

VICTOR, Idaho (KIFI) — A Victor home narrowly avoided a major catastrophe Monday night, after a nearby pickup truck burst into flames.

Teton County Fire & Rescue was called to the emergency around 9:46 PM on December 22. They arrived at the 8400 block of Red Hawk Trail to find a vehicle with flames coming from its engine compartment and threatening a nearby home.

The crews immediately attacked the fire, first preventing further damage to the home and then directly combating the flames. The fire was fully extinguished within 15 minutes.

While the pickup truck was declared a total loss, the home escaped with only exterior damage. Teton County Fire & Rescue officials credited the favorable outcome to the quick thinking of bystanders who quickly called emergency services. No injuries to civilians or first responders were reported during the incident.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Santa traded reindeer for rifle racks this weekend, stopping by The Gun Shop in Idaho Falls to pose for photos with kids. It’s all part of a holiday event meant to give families a less crowded alternative to the mall.

The idea had actually come from a practical problem.

“Everybody wants to go see Santa, and so I know if I take my kids to the mall, the lines are crazy long. And so we just wanted to give kids another option, another place to find Santa,” Lindsey, the marketing coordinator at The Gun Shop, said.

This is the first year The Gun Shop is hosting Santa, but it won’t be the last.

“I think we’ll probably do it again,” Lindsey said.

Santa had one last thing to say to all the kids before he jumps down those chimneys.

“It’s easy to think that you can get on the naughty list, but for the most part, kids are pretty good. We all make mistakes. The important thing is that we fix our mistakes and we try better the next day. That’s what matters,” Santa said.

The event is happening from Dec. 23 to Dec. 24 from 12-2 p.m.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Due to increased holiday travel, the Long-Term Parking Lot at Idaho Falls Regional is now full and temporarily closed. Airport officials issued an alert via social media, sharing photos of the packed lot and notifying passengers that while the Economy Lot on International Way remains an option, its availability is also becoming limited.

Addressing potential confusion for travelers on the ground, IDA explained that once the airport determines that safe access or traffic flow can no longer be maintained, the lot must be closed.

“You may notice open spaces in some areas — however, parking availability is managed based on operational and safety thresholds, not visual vacancy alone,” states the post. “When traffic flow or safe access can no longer be maintained, a lot may temporarily close even if some spaces remain.”

Airport leadership expressed their gratitude for the public’s patience during this peak holiday travel season, emphasizing that these restrictions are in place to ensure the safety of both passengers and their vehicles.

The airport is encouraging travelers to get a ride or use the Greater Idaho Falls Transit to avoid parking trouble. They’re also reminding flyers to arrive early and check flight status with their airline

To watch for updates on parking conditions, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A Canadian truck driver is facing felony charges of enticing a child over the internet following an undercover sting operation by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced Monday that 41-year-old Kelly Maier was taken into custody in Idaho Falls following a joint investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.

Case Background

The investigation began on December 8, when an ICAC investigator posing as a teenage girl created a new profile on an online chat application, where “she” was contacted by Maier. Under the guise of the teenage girl, the detective continued to message back and forth with Maier, at one point asking the man, “Would u be mad if I’m not 18?” Documents state that Maier responded by asking how old the fake girl was, to which the detective responded, “14, but super mature for my age.”

Maier allegedly continued the message back and forth with the undercover detective, eventually moving the chat to a secondary messaging app under the username “KM.” As the conversation progressed over several days, Maier allegedly sent explicit messages and photos taken from inside his truck. In exchange, the detective sent a doctored image of a woman posing as a teenage girl, often used by law enforcement to investigate internet crimes against children, according to court docs.

Investigators state that Maier repeatedly suggested a physical meeting as he traveled through Idaho Falls, at one point acknowledging the age gap could get him in trouble but assuring the undercover officer they would “behave.” Maier continued to make several references to sexual activity and offered to meet the minor at a local truck stop. At one point, Maier assured the fake girl he’d use a condom so she didn’t get pregnant and made references to “her” virginity.

Law enforcement moved in to arrest Maier on the night of December 17 at a Love’s Truck Stop after he agreed to meet the undercover detective there. In interviews with police, Maier reportedly admitted that he knew he was chatting with a 14-year-old but claimed he only intended to “wish her a Merry Christmas” and provide emotional support. When confronted with the sexual nature of his messages, Maier allegedly told investigators he wrote them in the “heat of the moment” but never intended to act on them.

Maier was booked into the Bonneville County Jail on felony charges. His Preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 31, 2025

Strong Partnerships and Protecting Idaho’s Children

Attorney General Labrador credited the arrest to the seamless coordination between agencies in Madison County, Idaho Falls, Bonneville County, and Pocatello. He emphasized that these partnerships are vital for removing predators from Idaho streets and ensuring the safety of children throughout the state. “Thanks to the strong partnerships we’ve built with law enforcement across Idaho, individuals like this are being arrested for these terrible crimes against children and families,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Madison County, Idaho Falls, Bonneville County, and Pocatello all worked together to make this arrest happen. When agencies coordinate like this, those who threaten our kids get removed from our streets. I am grateful for these partnerships and the commitment every officer brings to protecting Idaho’s children.” Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. For more information, click HERE.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the City of Idaho Falls:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Idaho Falls Sanitation Division is helping residents wrap up the holiday season by offering convenient Christmas tree disposal options throughout the city through Jan. 31.

Because of processing requirements at the Bonneville County Transfer Station, Christmas trees cannot be placed in regular household garbage. To make disposal easier, the Sanitation Division has established 13 designated drop off locations across Idaho Falls where residents can safely discard their trees.

The disposal sites are intended for city residents only and may not be used by commercial tree lots to dispose of unsold trees. Residents are reminded to remove all ornaments, lights and decorations before dropping off their trees.

Christmas tree disposal locations:

Soccer fields parking lot off Old Butte Road

Washburn Avenue and Michael Street at Reinhart Park

 Fremont Avenue near the recycling bin north of the Science Center

West Elva Street at the Melaleuca Field parking lot

North Water Avenue and Chestnut Street in the northeast corner

West 13th Street and North Placer Avenue

10th Street and Emerson Avenue

Tautphaus Park outdoor ice rink near the glass recycling container

Bennett Avenue and Waid Street

Sunnyside Park near Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in the southeast corner

Sykes Drive and Davidson Drive

Ashment Avenue and 12th Street

Russet Street and Lincoln Drive

CHRISTMAS TREE DISPOSAL SITE MAP

Collected trees will be chipped and recycled into mulch, which will be made available to Idaho Falls residents next spring.

For more information about Christmas tree disposal or the mulch program, contact the Sanitation Division at (208) 612-8491.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Sirens will soon be blaring from a brand-new fire station serving northeast Idaho Falls.

Firefighters and city officials celebrated the grand opening with a ceremonial uncoupling of the hoses on Monday.

The station will house a crew of five firefighters and paramedics.

Officials say the new station will help firefighters reduce fire response times.

“This new station allows us to fill a gap we identified in our coverage area to the North,” said Idaho Falls Fire Department Interim Fire Chief Paul Radford. “Out of our stations that we have in this area, we’ve placed them strategically across town so we can make our national standards of four minutes per EMS call and five minutes per structure fire call for the first arriving unit and then eight minutes for the effective response force.”

Located on Spitfire Street (next to North 15th East/Woodruff Avenue), the fire station will provide crews faster access to Sage Lakes, Lewisville Highway and the County Line area, the interim chief said

“This station will have a (fire) engine and an ambulance currently when it opens,” Idaho Falls Fire Department Paramedic Brock McCue. “Then hopefully within the next two, three years, we’ll be able to stand up our second battalion chief.”

Built on a seven-acre parcel, the additional ground provides space for a future Idaho Falls Fire Department storage site.

“It’s been a real privilege to be a part of this department’s growth and maturity, and … this is our third fire facility that I’ve worked on,” Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper said. “I think it’s awfully impressive that we have been able to do all of that with no debt.”

The building cost $1.5 million, with a total project price tag of $3.7 million including the land, equipment and a generator.

A boy jumps into the fire truck at Station #6.

It was paid for with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, wildland resources and impact fees.

The uncoupling ceremony marked one of Casper’s final public addresses as mayor of Idaho Falls.

During her tenure, the city’s Insurance Service Organization (ISO) rating improved from a III to a II as the department expanded its network of stations.

Fire officials recognized Casper’s leadership, commitment to the safety of Idaho Falls citizens and responsiveness to the needs of the fire department.

The station will be fully operational starting on January 5.

A fire engine departs from the new Station #6 in north Idaho Falls.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATE:

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — After a 14-hour cleanup, the Teton Pass along Wyoming Hwy. 22 is back open as of 5 PM today, December 22, the Wyoming Department of Transportation announced. WYDOT expressed its gratitude to the Idaho Transportation Department for their help clearing the pass, which originally was projected to take until 2 PM the following day.

WYDOT is directing travelers to drive cautiously and stay alert, as contract crews will work under traffic as roadside operations continue tomorrow.

For updates and alerts, click HERE.

ORIGINAL:

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — The Idaho Transportation Department is working to help crews in Wyoming in the massive task of cleaning the Teton Pass following Monday morning’s avalanche mitigation.

The pass remains blocked in both directions by a substantial wall of snow after WYDOT crews brought down a large, controlled avalanche at Glory Bowl during the mitigation work. WYDOT initially closed the pass at 3 AM on December 22 to begin the mitigation work. However, due to the sheer volume of debris, officials do not expect the road to reopen until Tuesday between noon and 2:00 PM.

Courtesy: ITD/WYDOT

Recognizing the scale of the cleanup, WYDOT reached out to the ITD foreman in Driggs early Monday afternoon for reinforcements. Idaho crews are now attacking the snowbank from the western side.

“In our usual ‘No Boundaries’ mindset, eastern Idaho is here to help through today, tonight, and until the task is done,” ITD posted to Facebook.

For updates and alerts on when the Teton Pass is open, click HERE.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Idaho Falls Fire Department:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Fire Department (IFFD) formally marked the grand opening of Fire Station 6 today, with a ceremonial hose uncoupling at 2767 N. Spitfire St. The event signifies the completion of construction and the official opening of a new fire station on Idaho Falls’ north side, which will support emergency response in a rapidly growing area of the community.

“The opening of Fire Station 6 represents a critical investment in the safety and well-being of our growing community,” said Interim Fire Chief Paul Radford. “As development continues to the north, this station ensures our residents receive the rapid, professional, life-saving services they expect and deserve. Station 6 strengthens our operational readiness, reduces response times, and reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting lives and property.”

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards call for emergency medical service response times of under four minutes and fire response times of under five minutes. The decision to construct Station 6 and its location were guided by these standards, along with analysis of IFFD dispatch call data and growth projections. The station is intended to address continued growth along North River Road, Sage Lakes, and toward the northern county line.

IFFD responded to more than 17,000 calls in 2025 and receives well over 1,000 additional calls for service per year, providing fire protection within the City of Idaho Falls and most of Bonneville County. The department also delivers emergency medical services to all of Bonneville County and portions of Jefferson and Bingham counties through service agreements.

While the facility is now officially open, Station 6 will not immediately respond to emergency calls. The department is in the process of staffing and expects Station 6 to be fully operational by Jan. 5, 2026, once dispatch and operational systems are implemented.

“This station represents a commitment to our residents,” said Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper. “Through thoughtful planning and strong leadership, we delivered a critical public safety facility that strengthens emergency response while being fiscally responsible. As Idaho Falls continues to grow, investments like this ensure our firefighters and paramedics can reach people quickly when it matters most—protecting lives, property, and the long-term well-being of our community.”

The City of Idaho Falls approved the purchase of the seven-acre property for Station 6 on July 28, 2022, for a total cost of $900,000. The land was purchased without using property tax dollars, funded by $658,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and $252,000 from the auction of the former Fire Prevention Building on 8th Street.

Construction of Station 6 was awarded to Big D Construction, with an original bid of $2,746,908.46, approved on November 26, 2024. Construction funding included approximately $1.4 million in ARPA funds, with the remaining balance funded through Wildland resources of approximately $900,000 and impact fees of approximately $600,000.

Additional project costs include the purchase of a KG60 generator and transfer switch for backup power at a cost of $117,545, funded through the Fire Station capital improvement projects budget. The total cost of the Fire Station 6 project is approximately $3.7 million.

The station was designed using proven layouts from existing fire stations to ensure operational efficiency while controlling costs. When fully operational, it will house a Class 1 fire engine and an advanced life support (ALS) ambulance staffed with five personnel every day, allowing IFFD to deliver faster fire and medical response to City residents. The facility was also built with capacity for a wildland engine, a water tender, and a future second battalion chief ensuring we are positioned to meet both today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.

This milestone advances IFFD’s mission of Providing Professional Life Saving Services across Idaho Falls.

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News Release

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

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Pocatello Sanitation Services is preparing for one of its busiest times of the year as the Christmas and New Year’s holidays approach.

City offices will be closed Thursday, December 25, in observance of Christmas, and Thursday, January 1, in observance of New Year’s Day. As a result, garbage and recycling collection will be delayed one day for Thursday and Friday during both holiday weeks.

From December 25–26 and January 1–2, residents are asked to place their autocarts out for collection by 7 a.m. the day after their normal collection day. Thursday service will move to Friday, Friday to Saturday.

From December 26 through December 31, the department will offer a special holiday pickup for extra bags and boxes. Extra items should be placed in the same location as regular garbage. Christmas trees should not be placed with extra trash.

Christmas tree collection sites will be available from December 26 through January 11. Drop boxes will be removed the morning of January 12. Trees will be chipped and reused for City landscaping projects. Please remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, wires, and other materials before disposal to avoid damage to wood-chipping equipment.

Christmas tree drop-off sites will be available from December 26 through January 11 at City Hall (911 N. 7th Ave.), Rainey Park (900 South Arthur Ave.), and near the entrance to Sister City Park on Pocatello Creek Road. Trees will be chipped and reused for City landscaping projects. All decorations must be removed prior to disposal.

For questions, contact the Sanitation Department at 208-234-6192.

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Maile Sipraseuth

WILSON, Wyo., (KIFI) — Emergency crews responded to a life-threatening avalanche on Teton Pass Saturday afternoon after a Jackson Hole skier was fully buried on the popular “Bear Claw” trail.

The slide was triggered around 2:15 p.m. Emergency responders and bystanders worked to find the man, who was completely buried by the avalanche. According to the Jackson Hole News & Guide, the man was rescued and rushed to St. John’s Health. As of Monday morning, his current medical status has not been released.

An initial assessment by the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center indicates the “crown,” the upper edge where the snow broke away, averaged about one foot thick. Due to these conditions, experts have categorized this as a D2 avalanche.

Local authorities are reminding backcountry users that even “small” slides can have devastating consequences and urge everyone to check the daily advisory at jhavalanche.org before heading out.

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