Boise BLM Fire crews responded to a reported wildfire off Sea Breeze Lane near Tipanuk in Elmore County at approximately 11:40 a.m. Wednesday. Upon arrival, and seeing the size of the fire, the BLM incident commander placed an order for the Elmore County Sheriff, the Mountain Home Rural Fire Department structural fire engine, and the Oasis Rural Fire Department.
Firefighters arrived on the scene to find three structures already burning. “The quick response from all involved aided in saving multiple other structures in the immediate area,” said BLM spokesman Joshua Renz.
Five structures are still threatened. Containment is estimated at 6:00 pm this evening, he added.
“The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it is believed to have originated from a single residential structure. The fire then spread to two other structures in the area and approximately three acres of grass and brush,” said Renz.
Resources on the fire included five engines, one water tender and two structure engines.
The fire occurred in an area that is not within a structure fire protection district. BLM firefighters are not trained or equipped to suppress structure fires, therefore additional resources were required and immediately ordered to aid in suppression efforts.
Two structure fire engines were supplied by the Mountain Home Rural Fire Department to aid in extinguishing the structure fire, while Boise BLM fire crews mopped up the grass and brush consumed by the fire.
