Wildfire off I-84 between Boise and Mountain Home was human-caused, officials say
The Doubletapp Fire, which ignited Monday off of Interstate 84 southeast of Boise, was human-caused, Boise’s Bureau of Land Management told the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday.
The grass and brush fire, which was contained by 8 p.m. Monday, grew to more than 700 acres, Chad Cline, a fire information personnel with Boise’s Bureau of Land Management, told the Statesman by email. When a fire is contained, it means that the spread has been stopped, but crews are still monitoring the fire and working to eliminate hot spots.
“Hot and dry conditions resulted in rapid-fire spread, but fire crews were able to make excellent progress in fire suppression efforts,” the bureau said in a news release. The fire was located between Boise and Mountain Home, just off the freeway and close to Simco Road.
The bureau was still investigating the exact cause of the fire, Cline said. No civilians or firefighters have been injured, he said.
The fire is expected to be controlled, which is when mop-up is complete, and resources released at 6 p.m. Wednesday, according to a Tuesday Twitter post.
The bureau posted on Twitter on Monday at 7 p.m. that the fire was approximately 200 acres in size. A total of four overhead trucks, four fire engines, one fire dozer, one water tender and three heavy air tankers were sent out. The bureau was also assisted by the Boise Fire Department, Orchard Fire and Mountain Home Rural Fire Protection Association.
The fire initially doubled from about 100 to 200 acres between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. It shut down I-84 for a bit, but the interstate was reopened by 7 p.m., according to a tweet from the agency. Cline said the smoke caused visibility issues for drivers.
The Doubletapp Fire is approximately 200 acres. Crews are in the process of securing the perimeter and the fire is estimated to be contained at 8 pm this evening. Estimated control sometime tomorrow. I84 has been reopened. pic.twitter.com/pRoK8qZ3Mr
— Bureau of Land Management Idaho Fire (@BLMIdahoFire) August 23, 2022
Boise’s Bureau of Land Management district also responded on Monday to two fires near Bonneville Point, a monument point in Ada County and a place where people frequently hike, bike and visit.
The Neal Fire, estimated to be 25 acres, was located northeast of Bonneville Point, and the Bonny Fire, estimated to be 4 acres, was located south of Bonneville Point. Both fires are under investigation and began as brush and grass fires.
