UPDATE 8:30 pm – Pocatello Fire Department said the evacuation order has been lifted. Fire is currently 40% contained and burned 231.6 acres. The fire is being turned over to BLM.
Full containment is expected by 6:00 pm tomorrow.
Crews will remain on site. They said said orange hot spots of the fire could be seen as it gets dark. They said no need to call dispatch as there are crews on site.
EARLIER UPDATES:
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Pocatello Fire Department has issued an evacuation alert for people living west of South Lincoln in the City Creek area. Everyone living along North Lincoln St from the switchback up, through City Creek, has been told to evacuate.
Evacuees are being asked to go to the Pocatello City Hall building, where the Red Cross has set up a shelter.
“A temporary flight restriction has been put in place for the airspace above the wildfire. Thus, drones cannot be flown by Federal law,” says the Pocatello Police Department in a press update.
Fire Crews have reportedly seen drones flying in the area, despite the temporary flight restriction in place.
“Don’t put the air resources helping to fight the fire at risk,” said the police in the press release.
Officers are reportedly going door-to-door notifying residents, and a Reverse 911 alert is also being sent to those in the affected evacuation zone.
Local News 8 is monitoring the situation to keep track of further evacuation alerts and will provide updates accordingly.
UPDATE:
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Crews in Pocatello are working to contain the West Clark Fire burning near the trailhead of West Clark Street in the west bench of the city. The fire is now estimated to be around 1000 acres and heading south, according to the latest reports from the scene and the Pocatello Fire Department.
Pocatello Fire is being supported by the BLM, Forest Service, and the Chubbuck Fire. They say Air resources are en route and should be arriving any time.
No evacuations are being ordered at this time, and no homes are currently being threatened.
Fire crews are asking people to avoid the area to allow crews access to the fire.
“Please DO NOT fly any drones in the area,” instructs the Pocatello Fire Department. “If you fly a drone, we are not able to use air resources to combat the fire.”
ORIGINAL:
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Pocatello firefighters, aided by the Chubbuck Fire Department and BLM wildland firefighter crews, are battling a wildfire off West Clark Street on the west bench of the city.
The fire has officially been dubbed the “West Clark Fire” according to the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center.
As of now, no evacuations have been issued, but the fire department is asking people to avoid the area so crews can access the area and contain the blaze. There is no word yet on containment, but the Pocatello Fire Department has estimated that the fire is roughly around 50 acres.
This is a breaking news story that Local News 8 will continue to update as the situation develops.
Local News 8’s Skycam has live video of the blaze:
