Firefighters from multiple agencies battled a brush fire along Interstate 15 near mile marker 86, in the Gibson Canal area south of Blackfoot. The fire was first reported around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday and has burned an estimated 70 acres of tall grass and sagebrush, according to fire officials. Responding agencies include the Fort Hall Fire Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and the Blackfoot Fire Department.
As of late Wednesday afternoon, the fire was 80 percent contained, said Mina Brown, a spokesperson for the BLM. There are currently no evacuation orders in place, and it is unknown if any structures are threatened. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Authorities are urging drivers to avoid the area and refrain from slowing down to observe the fire while traveling along I-15. They also remind motorists to safely pull over if emergency vehicles are approaching so crews can get to the fire quickly.
