Boise is choking on smoke this morning from the numerous wildfires, including one in the Boise foothills just east of town near Aldape Summit. The Stone fire ignited this morning between 8th Street and Rocky Canyon road; Shaw Mountain Road is closed due to the fire, as are numerous Boise foothills trails. The city of Boise sent out this trail closure advisory this morning:

"A wildfire ignited this morning near Aldape Summit in Rocky Canyon. As such, Rocky Canyon Road is currently closed, and trail users will likely be turned around by fire crews on 3 Bears Trail #26, Femrite's Patrol #6, 8th Street Motorcycle Trail #4 and Watchman Trail #2. Shane's Trail #26A, 5-Mile Gulch Trail #2 and Orchard Gulch Trail #7 will not be accessible from their trailheads on Rocky Canyon Road. Please avoid using this area until further notice."

There are numerous other wildfires burning in southwestern Idaho, including one near the junction of Grimes Creek Road and State Highway 21 in Boise County that's threatening homes; one that closed I-84 south of Boise for hours yesterday and spread to 2,000 acres after it was ignited by a car crash; and the now-contained 25,000-acre Benwalk fire north of Mountain Home that ignited Monday. Click below for a complete update on Southwest idaho fires from the Idaho office of the BLM.

For Immediate Release: July 11, 2012

Update: Southwest Idaho Fires

 

BOISE – As smoke from numerous wildfires lingers over the Treasure Valley, firefighters continue to battle wildfires throughout southwest Idaho.  High temperatures are increasing fire behavior and continuing to dry vegetation throughout the state.   

 Current Fire Update

 New Fires:

 Fire Name: Stone
Size: +/- 6 acres

Location: 1.5 miles north of Rocky Canyon Road, 3 miles northeast of Boise
Est. Contain: UNK.  Est. Control: UNK.
*Firefighters strongly recommend avoiding the trail system in between 8^th Street and Rocky Canyon road, as fire equipment will be working in the area.

 

Fire Name: Stout

Size: +/- 20 acres

Location: 14 miles north of Hammett, ID

Est. Contain: UNK.  Est. Control: UNK.

 

Ongoing Fires:

 

Fire Name: Benwalk

Size: +/- 25,000 acres

Location: 15 miles east of Mountain Home, ID

Contained: 7/11 10:00 AM.  Est. Control:  7/11 8 PM.

 

Fire Name: MM 66 I 84
Size: +/- 2,000 acres
Location: 10 miles east of Boise, along I-84. 
Contained: 7/10 11 PM.  Est. Control: 7/11 6 PM .

 

Fire Name: Jacks

Size: +/-20,000 acres

Location: south edge of Little Jacks Creek Wilderness

Est. Contain: UNK.   Est. Control:  UNK.

 

Fire Name: Flint

Size:  188 acres

Location:  12 miles southeast of Jordan Valley, OR (Owyhee Mountains)

Est. Contain: 8 PM July 9.    Est. Control:  UNK.

 

Fire Name: Chimney

Size: +/- 9 acres

Location:  3 miles west of Triangle, ID (Owyhee Mountains)

Est. Contain: UNK.   Est. Control: UNK.

 

Fire Name: South Indian

Size: +/- 13,000 acres

Location: east of Bruneau

Est. Contain:  7/10 1:00 PM   Est. Control:  7/10 8 PM

 

Fire Name: MM43 Hwy 78

Size: +/- 400 acres

Location: east of Oreana, ID

Est. Contain:  7/10 2:00 PM   Est. Control: 7/11 12:00 PM

Fire Name: Dynamite
Size: +/- 300 acres
Location: Near Pleasant Valley Road, a few miles south of Boise
 

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