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The following is a news release from the Idaho Falls Fire Department:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Fire Department (IFFD) formally marked the grand opening of Fire Station 6 today, with a ceremonial hose uncoupling at 2767 N. Spitfire St. The event signifies the completion of construction and the official opening of a new fire station on Idaho Falls’ north side, which will support emergency response in a rapidly growing area of the community.

“The opening of Fire Station 6 represents a critical investment in the safety and well-being of our growing community,” said Interim Fire Chief Paul Radford. “As development continues to the north, this station ensures our residents receive the rapid, professional, life-saving services they expect and deserve. Station 6 strengthens our operational readiness, reduces response times, and reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting lives and property.”

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards call for emergency medical service response times of under four minutes and fire response times of under five minutes. The decision to construct Station 6 and its location were guided by these standards, along with analysis of IFFD dispatch call data and growth projections. The station is intended to address continued growth along North River Road, Sage Lakes, and toward the northern county line.

IFFD responded to more than 17,000 calls in 2025 and receives well over 1,000 additional calls for service per year, providing fire protection within the City of Idaho Falls and most of Bonneville County. The department also delivers emergency medical services to all of Bonneville County and portions of Jefferson and Bingham counties through service agreements.

While the facility is now officially open, Station 6 will not immediately respond to emergency calls. The department is in the process of staffing and expects Station 6 to be fully operational by Jan. 5, 2026, once dispatch and operational systems are implemented.

“This station represents a commitment to our residents,” said Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper. “Through thoughtful planning and strong leadership, we delivered a critical public safety facility that strengthens emergency response while being fiscally responsible. As Idaho Falls continues to grow, investments like this ensure our firefighters and paramedics can reach people quickly when it matters most—protecting lives, property, and the long-term well-being of our community.”

The City of Idaho Falls approved the purchase of the seven-acre property for Station 6 on July 28, 2022, for a total cost of $900,000. The land was purchased without using property tax dollars, funded by $658,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and $252,000 from the auction of the former Fire Prevention Building on 8th Street.

Construction of Station 6 was awarded to Big D Construction, with an original bid of $2,746,908.46, approved on November 26, 2024. Construction funding included approximately $1.4 million in ARPA funds, with the remaining balance funded through Wildland resources of approximately $900,000 and impact fees of approximately $600,000.

Additional project costs include the purchase of a KG60 generator and transfer switch for backup power at a cost of $117,545, funded through the Fire Station capital improvement projects budget. The total cost of the Fire Station 6 project is approximately $3.7 million.

The station was designed using proven layouts from existing fire stations to ensure operational efficiency while controlling costs. When fully operational, it will house a Class 1 fire engine and an advanced life support (ALS) ambulance staffed with five personnel every day, allowing IFFD to deliver faster fire and medical response to City residents. The facility was also built with capacity for a wildland engine, a water tender, and a future second battalion chief ensuring we are positioned to meet both today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.

This milestone advances IFFD’s mission of Providing Professional Life Saving Services across Idaho Falls.

UPDATE:

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — After a 14-hour cleanup, the Teton Pass along Wyoming Hwy. 22 is back open as of 5 PM today, December 22, the Wyoming Department of Transportation announced. WYDOT expressed its gratitude to the Idaho Transportation Department for their help clearing the pass, which originally was projected to take until 2 PM the following day.

WYDOT is directing travelers to drive cautiously and stay alert, as contract crews will work under traffic as roadside operations continue tomorrow.

For updates and alerts, click HERE.

ORIGINAL:

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — The Idaho Transportation Department is working to help crews in Wyoming in the massive task of cleaning the Teton Pass following Monday morning’s avalanche mitigation.

The pass remains blocked in both directions by a substantial wall of snow after WYDOT crews brought down a large, controlled avalanche at Glory Bowl during the mitigation work. WYDOT initially closed the pass at 3 AM on December 22 to begin the mitigation work. However, due to the sheer volume of debris, officials do not expect the road to reopen until Tuesday between noon and 2:00 PM.

Recognizing the scale of the cleanup, WYDOT reached out to the ITD foreman in Driggs early Monday afternoon for reinforcements. Idaho crews are now attacking the snowbank from the western side.

“In our usual ‘No Boundaries’ mindset, eastern Idaho is here to help through today, tonight, and until the task is done,” ITD posted to Facebook.

For updates and alerts on when the Teton Pass is open, click HERE.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Sirens will soon be blaring from a brand-new fire station serving northeast Idaho Falls.

Firefighters and city officials celebrated the grand opening with a ceremonial uncoupling of the hoses on Monday.

The station will house a crew of five firefighters and paramedics.

Officials say the new station will help firefighters reduce fire response times.

“This new station allows us to fill a gap we identified in our coverage area to the North,” said Idaho Falls Fire Department Interim Fire Chief Paul Radford. “Out of our stations that we have in this area, we’ve placed them strategically across town so we can make our national standards of four minutes per EMS call and five minutes per structure fire call for the first arriving unit and then eight minutes for the effective response force.”

Located on Spitfire Street (next to North 15th East/Woodruff Avenue), the fire station will provide crews faster access to Sage Lakes, Lewisville Highway and the County Line area, the interim chief said

“This station will have a (fire) engine and an ambulance currently when it opens,” Idaho Falls Fire Department Paramedic Brock McCue. “Then hopefully within the next two, three years, we’ll be able to stand up our second battalion chief.”

Built on a seven-acre parcel, the additional ground provides space for a future Idaho Falls Fire Department storage site.

“It’s been a real privilege to be a part of this department’s growth and maturity, and … this is our third fire facility that I’ve worked on,” Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper said. “I think it’s awfully impressive that we have been able to do all of that with no debt.”

The building cost $1.5 million, with a total project price tag of $3.7 million including the land, equipment and a generator.

It was paid for with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, wildland resources and impact fees.

The uncoupling ceremony marked one of Casper’s final public addresses as mayor of Idaho Falls.

During her tenure, the city’s Insurance Service Organization (ISO) rating improved from a III to a II as the department expanded its network of stations.

Fire officials recognized Casper’s leadership, commitment to the safety of Idaho Falls citizens and responsiveness to the needs of the fire department.

The station will be fully operational starting on January 5.

The following is a news release from the City of Pocatello:

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Pocatello Sanitation Services is preparing for one of its busiest times of the year as the Christmas and New Year’s holidays approach.

City offices will be closed Thursday, December 25, in observance of Christmas, and Thursday, January 1, in observance of New Year’s Day. As a result, garbage and recycling collection will be delayed one day for Thursday and Friday during both holiday weeks.

From December 25–26 and January 1–2, residents are asked to place their autocarts out for collection by 7 a.m. the day after their normal collection day. Thursday service will move to Friday, Friday to Saturday.

From December 26 through December 31, the department will offer a special holiday pickup for extra bags and boxes. Extra items should be placed in the same location as regular garbage. Christmas trees should not be placed with extra trash.

Christmas tree collection sites will be available from December 26 through January 11. Drop boxes will be removed the morning of January 12. Trees will be chipped and reused for City landscaping projects. Please remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, wires, and other materials before disposal to avoid damage to wood-chipping equipment.

Christmas tree drop-off sites will be available from December 26 through January 11 at City Hall (911 N. 7th Ave.), Rainey Park (900 South Arthur Ave.), and near the entrance to Sister City Park on Pocatello Creek Road. Trees will be chipped and reused for City landscaping projects. All decorations must be removed prior to disposal.

For questions, contact the Sanitation Department at 208-234-6192.