Propane safety tips to prevent house explosion

KIFI on February 5, 2025

Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) –  In light of Tuesday’s [Jan. 28] house explosion, people might be wondering about safely operating propane tanks in their homes.

Most people living in residential areas use natural gas in their homes, however, a lot of houses in rural locations use propane. 

Idaho State Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl is reminding homeowners how to protect the gas lines in their houses.

“One of them is to have the propane piping below ground, which would protect it from any physical damage,” said Sandahl.

The second method would require a little work.

“Build a small roof, if you will, or some type of structure that would protect the regulator and the piping from any type of slope snow slide,” said Sandahl.

The fire service is seeing new homes are being built with the propane service on the gable end of the home, which prevents any issues with snow slides.

However with the older homes, very often it’s on the slope side of the houses.

“So what we want to do is protect them. We have had a couple of instances where snow slides have caused fractures of the pipe coming into the house and it fills up the lowest part because propane is heavier than air and it’ll fill up in there. And once it finds an ignition source, it could result in a fuel explosion,” said Sandahl.

Temporary closure scheduled on US 191/189 Hoback Canyon

KIFI on February 5, 2025

News Team

The following is a press release from the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Wyoming (WYDOT) – The Wyoming Department of Transportation has scheduled a closure of US 191/189 through Hoback Canyon for Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 5:00 a.m. for avalanche mitigation. Additional closures may be necessary depending on weather conditions. Reduced visibility, winter driving conditions, and increasing avalanche hazard may force an earlier closure. 

Dial 511 or go to www.wyoroad.info for updated weather and road conditions. Sign up for automated email and text alerts with 511 notify at www.wyoroad.info. 

Protest against ICE policy packs street

KIFI on February 5, 2025

Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Downtown Idaho Falls became the scene of protest Saturday afternoon as people in southeast Idaho gathered to voice their concerns about current U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Broadway Bridge with homemade signs, each with a message denouncing ICE enforcement taking place across the county. Several drivers on the road honked and cheered in support of the protest.

“I think right now there’s a lot of blame and negative [talk] on immigrants,” said protester Jennifer Vidales. “People fail to realize that we’re people. We’re out here, we’re family members, we go to school, we’re neighbors. I think that’s really important to what our message today is.”

The protest’s organizers worked with the City of Idaho Falls and the police department so everyone would be safe. Protesters were instructed to avoid violence, especially if people of opposing views tried to anger them.

“We want to take a stand against systemic racism and unjust immigration policies,” said Shantelle Duran, one of the protest’s organizers. “We invite the community to stand with us and show support for our neighbors who are likely to be targeted under increased ICE raids and detentions.”

Protesters say this demonstration is only the first step.

“We’re going to keep fighting. I’m going to keep fighting,” said Vidales. “I’ve always cared for immigrant rights. I’m an immigrant advocate and I will continue to use my voice as much as I can for those who can’t.”

Plane crash in Philadelphia leaves multiple houses on fire, causes explosion

KIFI on February 5, 2025

CNN Newsource

By Jessica MacAulay, Ben Payne

Click here for updates on this story

    PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (KYW) — Emergency crews are responding to an explosion in Northeast Philadelphia after a small medical jet crashed in the area of Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue, Philadephia police confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia.

The plane was going from Philadelphia to Springfield, Missouri, leaving the Northeast Philadelphia Airport when tragedy struck.

Two people were aboard the plane, according to police. It’s unclear at this time if they were ejected or able to escape. There are several injuries reported on the ground, police added.

Multiple rowhomes on fire

Multiple homes are on fire in the area of Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard following the crash, fire officials said.

Police sources told CBS News Philadelphia’s Chief Investigative Reporter Joe Holden that parts of the plane hit cars in the area. Some businesses near the Roosevelt Mall are on fire, sources said.

The area, where the crash happened, especially near Cottman and Roosevelt Boulevard is a densely residential neighborhood and packed with rows of rowhomes.

Neighbors in the Northeast Philadelphia area have called CBS Philadelphia reporting their homes shook when the plane went down.

It’s unclear at this time what led to the crash or where the plane was coming from and heading toward. The status of those who were injured was also not immediately available.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Snake River Animal Shelter open Sundays

KIFI on February 5, 2025

Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Major changes are coming to the Snake River Animal Shelter. The shelter will now be open on Sundays.

Visitors will now be able to book private appointments to meet adoptable animals throughout the weekend. These appointments were leading to more adoptions, but the shelter says many people don’t have time to go to the shelter on weekdays.

“We do have a limited time, so it’s only 12 to 3 [p.m.] instead of longer,” said Kennel Tech, Krista Smylie. “But we do welcome anyone to come down, meet an animal and get to know one of them and go ahead and see if you want to adopt.”

Smylie says 2024 was a great year for the shelter between receiving grants and getting several pets adopted. The shelter is aiming to do even better in 2025. The extra hours on Sundays should make it easier and more likely for people to adopt cats and dogs.

New museum exhibit opening weekend

KIFI on February 5, 2025

Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The forefront of artificial intelligence is on display in eastern Idaho. This week, the Museum of Idaho welcomed hundreds of visitors to their new exhibit on AI.

The exhibit teaches people about artificial intelligence, its uses, and controversies.

Artificial intelligence is changing rapidly and can affect people all over the world between advancing technology and spreading false information. So the museum says it’s important for everyone to understand how AI works.

“AI is here to stay and it’s here now,” said Director of Exhibitions, Rod Hansen. “And those of us, myself included, who didn’t know a whole lot about AI a year ago, we really need to be made aware.”

Hansen says the museum’s goal is to help visitors understand the basics of artificial intelligence, then decide how they want to approach it personally, with their families, and in industries.

The exhibit will be open until May 4th.

3 car collision north of Shelley sends two to the hospital

KIFI on February 5, 2025

Curtis Jackson

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI)—Idaho State Police are investigating a three-vehicle crash that blocked US 91 north of Shelley Monday morning.

Idaho State Police said a 44-year-old Shelley woman driving a 2018 Ford Explorer was traveling north when it veered into the southbound lane, hitting head-on a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am driven by a 17-year-old Idaho Falls girl.

The Grand Am came to rest on the north shoulder. The Explorer spun around, came to rest facing south, and was hit in the rear by a 2013 GMC Sierra driven by a 51-year-old Idaho Falls man.

The drivers of the Explorer and the Grand Am were taken to the hospital. Their conditions are unknown.

The road was blocked for a couple of hours.

High avalanche danger issued for mountain slopes

KIFI on February 5, 2025

Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)—A high avalanche danger has been issued by both the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center and the Sawtooth Avalanche Center for most area mountains in central and eastern Idaho, southern Montana, and western Wyoming.

Keith Richey, coordinator for Fremont County Emergency Management, said heavy snowfall and strong winds are rapidly adding weight to weak layers in the snowpack and creating very dangerous avalanche conditions. He urges people to avoid traveling on and underneath slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center posted on its website that slabs 1 to 3 feet in depth will react to a skier’s or snowmobile’s weight. Natural avalanches are possible in wind-loaded mid- and upper-elevation terrain and low-elevation terrain where the snowpack is saturated from rain. Traveling in, near, or under avalanche terrain is not recommended for Monday.

The Port announces two new summer concerts

KIFI on February 5, 2025

Curtis Jackson

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Two new concerts were announced Monday coming to the Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre, also known as ‘The Port,’ this summer.

Little Feat and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band will perform on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Billy Currington will perform on Saturday, July 12, 2025.

Tickets for The Port are available via ETIX on Friday, February 7, 10 AM, Mountain Times.

Little Feat and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Little Feat and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band are joining forces on the road for the first time with their Dirty Feat Tour.

As evidenced by a 2025 Grammy Award nomination for its 2024 album Sam’s Place (Best Traditional Blues Album), the legendary Little Feat continues to build on a deep, 50-plus-year history with no end in sight. Utilizing a combination of elite musicianship and brilliant, idiosyncratic songwriting to create a repertoire that transcends all boundaries, Little Feat has always been about the songs and musicianship—as its honest and durable legacy illustrates. California rock, funk, folk, jazz, country and rockabilly mixed with New Orleans swamp boogie led to a powerful sound that has kept the audience dancing for decades. Songs like “Dixie Chicken,” “Spanish Moon,” “Fat Man in the Bathtub,” and “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now” display a continuous thread of excellence that embraces the qualities of exploration that make up Little Feat and its music, while honoring their brothers that began this journey decades ago: Lowell George, Richie Hayward, and Paul Barrere. Little Feat is in stellar form with its current lineup:  Scott Sharrard (lead guitar, vocals); Tony Leone (drums, vocals), founder Bill Payne (keys, vocals), Fred Tackett (guitars, vocals), Kenny Gradney (bass) and Sam Clayton (percussion, vocals).

The Grammy-, CMA- and IBMA-Award-winning Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, currently on its ALL THE GOOD TIMES:  The Farewell Tour celebrating nearly 60 years of music making, remains one of the most accomplished bands in American roots music. The group’s current lineup is one of the most compelling in the group’s storied history, featuring founding members Jeff Hanna (lead vocals, guitar) & Jimmie Fadden (drums, harmonica, vocals); Bob Carpenter (keys, vocals)—a member since 1980; Jim Photoglo (bass, vocals); Jaime Hanna (guitar, vocals); and Ross Holmes (fiddle, mandolin, vocals). NGDB played its first gig in 1966 in Southern California as a jug band and by 1969 had become a cornerstone of the burgeoning country-rock community. The band’s career breakthrough came in 1970 with the release of “Mr. Bojangles,” a folksy Top 10 pop hit that brought roots music to the national forefront. In 1972, NGDB released the first of three groundbreaking Will The Circle Be Unbroken records, collaborating with many of the best bluegrass, country, and folk artists in the world. The band has recorded 16 Top 10 U.S. Country hits, highlighted by three #1’s: “Fishin’ In The Dark,” “Modern Day Romance,” and “Long Hard Road.” NGDB’s most recent recording is the critically acclaimed album, Dirt Does Dylan. 

Billy Currington

Billy Currington has spent nearly two decades topping the country charts, parlaying his rich, emotion-laden tenor and unerring song sense into some of the format’s most memorable hits. Across multiple Platinum-certified albums, the Georgia native has tallied 12 No. 1 singles, including 4X Platinum hit “People Are Crazy,” 4X Platinum “Good Directions,” 4X Platinum “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right,” plus Double-Platinum “Do I Make You Wanna,” Platinum “We Are Tonight,” and more. Equally skilled at delivering upbeat summertime anthems as well as exploring the complexities of life and love with a poignant ballad, Currington has recently released new songs “Everything Is Changing,” “City Don’t” and “Anchor Man.” For more information and upcoming tour dates, visit www.billycurrington.com.

Idaho Rep. Russ Fulcher brings state and feds together to prevent wildfires

KIFI on February 5, 2025

Stephanie Lucas

CANYON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho Congressman Russ Fulcher brought federal and state officials together on January 31, 2025, to curtail the 2025 wildfire season after what he calls a “devastating” wildfire season in 2024. He gave an overview of the roundtable in an interview with Local News 8.

“Last year, we burned – and I say ‘we, the state of Idaho’ – right at a million acres of wildfire that that tragically went up in smoke all over the state.”

Fulcher, currently serving on the Natural Resources Committee in Congress, says he “could see writing on the wall,” for more fires in Idaho this year.

“I can see that the Forest Service in Idaho and the Department of Interior have about a billion dollars in what’s called ‘deferred maintenance,’ and that is projects and things that have been approved they need to do, but they don’t have the resources to do it.”

‘Deferred maintenance’ refers to the fuel load clearing that Fulcher says isn’t happening in Idaho’s forests. The ‘fuel’ is from brush, dead branches, and small trees that can ignite and intensify wildfires.

Fulcher says the Forest Service “is overwhelmed” with the amount of work that needs to be done, making this “an all hands on deck” situation – even if all the parties aren’t accustomed to working together.

“There’s some fiefdoms that are out there,” Fulcher told Local News 8. “The federal entities don’t like to work with state and local sometimes. And vice versa. It’s a two-way street. But part of my motivation was just to bring everybody together, have them look left and right at the table and say, you know what, we need each other If we’re going to prevent this from happening again.”

Fulcher says he thinks some progress was made during the roundtable with multiple organizations.

“If nothing else, there was some rapport that was kind of built-in, shared some faces that were attached to a name and an entity that, you know, it just helps when you are in the middle of a crisis – and this wildfire situation is a crisis.”

Fulcher thinks there will be more meetings between organizations – albeit in a different geographic region.

“That doesn’t necessarily adhere to state boundaries, nor should it,” Fulcher said. “The Panhandle, for example, has got a different management corps that oversees that. And so we’ll want to do that probably in some different geographies just because the state is so big. But the bottom line that I just need to drive home here, is we need to understand that our federal partners in this case, they really are overwhelmed.”

Watch Rep. Fulcher’s full interview above.