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POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – After a dry winter in southeast Idaho, wildfire season has struck early and the Pocatello Fire Department is urging people to take precautions, especially in wildland urban interface areas. They have also pushed the annual burn ban up an entire month, now to start June 1.

Wildland urban interface areas, or WUI for short, is where homes interact with the natural habitat on the edges of city lines.

“Those are our areas of greatest concern here in Pocatello,” said Kim Stouse, Public Information Officer for the Pocatello Fire Department. “It’s not to say we can’t get a fire in a field or a backyard, but if it’s in an interface area, then the potential to grow significantly is much greater than if we can contain it to a backyard or somewhere else.”

In assessing wildfire risk, the fire departments look at the moisture accumulated from the winter season. This year, there was little precipitation at all, leading to hardly any runoff to keep the ground wet. Stouse said they’ve also seen temperatures increasing more quickly than normal.

“The mountains look now, like they normally would in July,” she said.

Stouse also said this year has the potential for more “red flag warnings” which are issued by the fire department when three main factors come together for the highest chance of a rapidly-growing wildfire. The factors are high temperatures, low relative humidity, and high winds.

The legendary Charlotte fire in Pocatello in 2012 was a red flag warning day. “We’re always on guard and ready to go at any time, but we may bring in extra personnel in our brush trucks to drive the mountain just to make sure that if we do see anything, we can get on top of it as quickly as possible,” Stouse said.

Fires can be caused by fallen power lines, blown over by the wind. Experts say these can be especially dangerous, and to never touch a downed line.

“When winds get really high, it can cause damage to the power system,” said Chad Monroe, Wildfire Communication Programs Manager at Rocky Mountain Power. “Often it’s because of debris that gets into the lines or it’s from vegetation, trees and things that have branches fall and cause a power line to come down.”

Monroe says to call 911 immediately or your local power company if you see a downed power line. He also says to be aware that a purposeful power outage may occur during the fire season out of caution for public safety. The public will be notified of these outages.

Tips from the Fire Department

In a high-risk year like this one coming off of a dry winter, people have a few steps to take to stay safe during fire season. Stouse reminded travelers to be mindful if you have to pull to the side of the road not to pull into tall grass where a fire could start from the heat of the car.

She also said to make sure to work in your yard earlier in the morning when the humidity is higher and the temperature is lower. Something as small as a chainsaw spark could cause a fire.

“We know, on average, between 85% and 90% of all wildfires are caused from humans,” Stouse said. “It could be a matter that people are in the outdoors and using a fireplace and not making sure it’s totally out, so it’s about being really mindful.”

The fire department also asks that you call them immediately if you see smoke or flames anywhere. If you recieve an evacuation notice to your phone, follow the orders immediately.

Stouse also says to have a plan in place for your children if they stay home alone during the summer. “Safety is always our number one priority,” she said. “Make sure you can contact your kids if they’re home and you recieve a wildfire notice. We want to get everybody out safely as soon as possible.”

Other tips include maintaining your property per the fire department guidelines found on their website. Dry shrubs and fallen branches left untouched can put your home in more danger of a wildfire spreading.

The Burn Ban

Already this season, several small fires have occured in the mountains surrounding Bannock County. On May 25, the Summit Creak Fire near Burley created a plume of smoke viewable from over one hundred miles away. Stouse said at this point, it’s a matter of time before one strikes closer to our area.

The fire department usually issues a burn ban in July, preventing people from controlled burning or campfire buring any material during the highest risk months. This year, the burn ban will go into effect on June 1.

“It means not allowing people to have any kind of open burning campfires in anything that’s considered a wildland urban interface and it’s county wide,” she explained. “You’re still allowed to use your gas or charcoal commercial cooking equipment, just making sure you’re using it responsibly.”

This is the time of year when people love to go camping, but the fire department says they have to look at the inherent risk and how they can limit fires this season. Stouse recommended finding alternatives for “cooking your marshmallows” like a gas propane heater.

The burn ban is only effective for areas outlined on the wildland urban interface map, seen below. Homes not inlcluded in the yellow or red areas are welcome to continue using backyard fireplaces in a safe manner.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A shelter-in-place order has been lifted for a local neighborhood after an attempt to serve a warrant led to a brief police incident on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office issued an “all-clear” for the area surrounding W. Elswood Drive after an Idaho Falls Police Department operation concluded safely.

Idaho Falls Police and the United States Marshals Task Force responded after Gustavo Chavez “barricaded himself inside the home,” said IFPD Interim Spokesperson Lt. Dustin Howell.

In the end, officers took Chavez into custody without incident.

He was wanted on several felony charges, including felony eluding and probation violations, according to Lt. Howell.

The following is a news release from the City of Idaho Falls:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Idaho Falls is notifying developers, builders, and the public of upcoming changes to the City’s residential impact fee assessment structure that will take effect June 1, 2026.

Impact fees help fund the infrastructure and public facilities needed to support new development, including parks, transportation systems, and public safety facilities. They help ensure growth pays for growth, rather than shifting the cost of new infrastructure and public facilities onto existing taxpayers.

Idaho Falls first adopted impact fees in 2022. As part of an update to the City’s impact fee ordinance approved by the Idaho Falls City Council on April 23, 2026, the city will transition from assessing residential impact fees on a per unit basis to a square footage-based assessment structure.

The updated structure is intended to more proportionally assess impact fees based on the size of residential development and anticipated demand for public infrastructure and facilities.

“Idaho Falls continues to experience steady growth, and it’s important that infrastructure planning keeps pace with community needs,” said Community Development Services Director Wade Sanner. “Impact fees play an important role in our city by providing a way for new developments to contribute to the cost of public facilities and infrastructure resulting from growth.”

Impact fees play an important role in helping Idaho Falls plan for and accommodate continued growth while maintaining the level of service residents expect. Projects funded through impact fees include the growth-related portions of the Idaho Falls Police Complex, the northside Fire Station, improvements to Heritage Park, Utah Avenue roadway improvements, the pathway along the Idaho Canal south of Sunnyside Road, and improvements to Holmes Avenue.

Additional information, including the updated ordinance, and impact fee study, is available on the City of Idaho Falls website.

Idaho Falls, ID (KIFI) – While Memorial Day weekend may be over, Idaho’s summer travel season is only beginning — and so are concerns over rising gas prices and deadly crashes on the road. The holiday weekend marked the start of both an increase in gas prices and Idaho’s “100 Deadliest Days”—the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when the number of fatal crashes statewide significantly rises.

Drivers in Idaho Falls are continuing to crowd local gas stations this week as summer travel ramps up. In Idaho Falls, the cheapest spot to find low gas prices is the Costco Gas station, with unleaded gasoline at $4.39 per gallon.

Over the holiday weekend, Triple AAA reported that the state average gas price settled at $4.55 – nearly a quarter more than a month ago. This extra cost due to gas prices puts a dent in the usual summer-season festivities and extended travel plans for many residents.

“Obviously, there’s never a great time for skyrocketing gas prices, but the pain is significant with so much of our summer travel season still ahead,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “For now, we believe that people will trim the budget in other ways and still hit the road or catch their flight.

But while more Idahoans are hitting the road for vacations and summer activities, law enforcement agencies say this time of year also brings a dangerous trend.

Idaho State Police says the state is now entering the “100 Deadliest Days” — the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when fatal crashes historically increase across Idaho.

Officials at Triple AAA and across law enforcement say distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, and failure to wear seatbelts continue to be major factors in deadly crashes during the summer months.

As a result, agencies across the state are increasing patrols and seatbelt enforcement efforts throughout the summer travel season. In fact, over the holiday weekend, the Southeast Idaho Traffic Safety Task Force reported issuing 217 seatbelt citations and warnings in a single day through patrol efforts.

Transportation officials say one of the easiest and most effective ways drivers can protect themselves is to buckle up before every trip.

Sgt. Andrew Nakashima of the Idaho State Police said, “With the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer starting in Idaho, the Idaho State Police reminds everyone that motorcycle and roadway safety is something we all share…Let’s all do our part by being more patient and paying extra attention on the roads. Together, we can help save lives this summer. Put safety first.”

Idaho State Police are reminding drivers this summer: “Click It or Ticket.” Safe and simple procedures like this ensure a summer of great, responsible fun.