Ross Fork fire burns 2,480 acres, residents evacuated
Fire crew working on Ross Fork Fire.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Fort Hall Fire Chief Brian Briggs said the Ross Fork Fire was 100 percent contained August 20 but there were several pockets of brush in the middle of the fire that continued to burn.
The fire began August 16 and burned 2,480 acres. The cause is uncertain but may have been caused by either a vehicle or ATV running over tall grass in the area Briggs said. No structures were burned although some were threatened. It burned into the Big Horse Fire that occurred earlier in the month.
Some Ross Fork residents were evacuated from the valley August 16 and were housed at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel & Events Center. They were allowed to return home August 17.
Roadblocks were set up to prevent onlookers from going into the area.
On August 17, the BLM reported there were nine engines, three dozers and 70 firefighters on scene.
Ross Fork Fire burns. (BLM photo)
The Gateway Interagency Fire Front agreement with agencies and departments in southeast Idaho was activated. The Tribal Emergency Operations Center was activated. The BLM, Pocatello Fire, Chubbuck Fire Department, Fort Hall Police, Tribal Corrections, Tribal Transportation, Fort Hall Business Council and Executive office was involved.
