ROCK CREEK, Idaho — Strong winds on Friday forced the Badger Fire northward, doubling the fire footprint. It is now burning at approximately 97,210 acres, approaching private land in the Rock Creek Canyon and Antelope Valley areas.
The fire is actively burning in beetle-killed timber, lodgepole pine and grass, and has now reached agricultural lands to the north. Firefighters successfully starved the fire of fuel before it reached any structures.
Evacuation: There is a mandatory evacuation order for all residents in Rock Creek Canyon, from Third Fork drainage on the south end to Foothill Road on the north end, in Twin Falls County. Information can be found by calling the Sheriff’s Office (208) 736-4177, or on their website. Evacuations also remain in Dry Creek and Trapper Creek in Cassia County. Information on evacuations in Cassia County can be found by calling the Cassia County Sheriff at (208) 878-1002. If you need shelter tonight, contact the Hilton Garden Inn at 800-272-6668.
The evacuation shelter at the Eastside Southern Baptist Church closed last evening at 9 p.m. Residents needing Red Cross assistance can call (800) 272-6668. RVs and evacuated livestock can stay at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds in Filer, Idaho.
Twin Falls County Sherriff Tom Carter lifted the evacuation order at 8 a.m. Sunday morning.
Area Closure: The Sawtooth National Forest issued the Badger Fire Road, Trail and Area Closure, effective September 15, 2020. As hunting seasons open, hunters are reminded the closure is in place for their safety and the safety of firefighters. The full Forest Closure Order can be viewed on the Sawtooth National Forest’s website.
