New Blackfoot fire chief sworn in

Bryon Howell has been unanimously approved to be the new fire chief for Blackfoot. He was sworn in Tuesday night. He replaces Kevin Gray who retired after 27 years as chief and 35 with the Blackfoot Fire Department. Howell has been a captain in the Blackfoot Fire Department for the last 10 years.
KIFI-TV ABC/CBS 8 Idaho Falls

Intoxicated man arrested after fleeing fiery crash in Idaho Falls

VIDEO: Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies and Idaho Falls Fire responded to a vehicle accident last Friday evening just before 7 p.m. on N. 5th W. near 97th N. It was reported the vehicle involved was on fire and the driver, an adult male, fled from the scene. When emergency personnel arrived, the vehicle was fully engulfed and hanging over the guardrail of a canal bridge. Fire personnel quickly put the fire out and bystanders pointed deputies to the direction where the driver had fled on foot. Deputies located the male, later identified as Christopher T. Reynolds, approximately ¾ of a mile away attempting to hide in the grass on the canal bank and took him into custody.
KIFI-TV ABC/CBS 8 Idaho Falls

Residents suffer minor smoke inhalation from Twin Falls house fire

Several people were treated for smoke inhalation following a house fire early Tuesday morning in Twin Falls. According to the Twin Falls Fire Department, fire crews were called out at around 5:37 a.m. to a home on the 600 block of Cindy Drive to find the front of the house on fire. A smoke detector in the house woke up one of the six adults in the house allowing them and three children to escape before firefighters arrived. Magic Valley Paramedics treated several of them for minor smoke inhalation, no one was hospitalized. The fire started in the living room area of the house however, the exact cause is under investigation. The Rock Creek Fire District assisted with the fire which was under control in less than 30 minutes.
KEZJ-FM 95.7 Twin Falls

Lightning strike ignites fire that guts Bonneville County home, injures firefighter

Shortly after 5:30 p.m. on July 2, the Idaho Falls Fire Department (IFFD) and Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) were dispatched to the 6000 block of E. Panorama Drive in Bonneville County after an individual saw smoke coming from the top of a house and called the Bonneville County/Idaho Falls Dispatch Center. A severe thunderstorm warning from Blackfoot north to Rigby was issued by the US National Weather Service in Pocatello just after 5 p.m. this evening. During the fire investigation, an individual reported witnessing a bolt of lightning hit near the home. None of the occupants were home when the fire started. All pets, with the exception of two cats, fled from the home without injury before emergency personnel arrived. The two cats were later found by firefighters safe inside the garage after the fire was extinguished.
Idaho State Journal

Driver walks away from RV fire near Ririe

PHOTOS: An RV caught fire near Idaho Falls Saturday afternoon. Witnesses tell EastIdahoNews.com it happened just before 5 p.m. The RV was traveling on U.S. Highway 26 and erupted in flames. Sgt. Bryan Lovell with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office confirms it happened at milepost 360, which is about four miles east of the Lane Clark rest area between Ririe and Swan Valley. Lovell says the driver was headed towards Idaho Falls at the time. He isn’t sure what caused it, but he says no one was hurt. It’s not clear if the driver was a man or a woman or how many people were involved. Central Fire District in Jefferson County responded and was able to put the fire out shortly after arriving. Idaho State Police helped direct traffic during the ordeal. EastIdahoNews.com will provide additional details if we get any new information.
East Idaho News

Selkirk firefighters take rescue training to new heights

You never know where you are going to see Selkirk Fire crews training. It might be off the side of a bridge or over a cliff. In mid-June, their training had them perched atop several of the majestic trees at Farmin Park. It's all part of a continuous effort by the fire department to train for situations they hope never happen, but for which they want to be prepared in case they do. The most recent training was inspired by a situation a few years ago in which an arborist was injured at the top of a tree and unable to make his way down. "He was all the way at the top of the tree, and was injured and couldn't get back down," Glen Cassidy, Selkirk captain and EMT, said. "Getting to him wasn't too bad, but trying to figure out how to get him down, [that was] a challenge because there's nothing above him for us to set anchors … so that we could get him into a rope system and lower him to the ground."
Bonner County Daily Bee

Talon Fire: Firefighters stop wildfire near Birds of Prey Center south of Boise, fire was shooting related

A wildfire reported off of Talon Lane, near the World Center for Birds of Prey south of Boise, has been fully contained. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates it will be controlled by 6 p.m. Tuesday. The fire was reported at about 8:17 p.m. Monday night. Smoke was visible for miles. Boise Fire Department crews and Ada County deputies initially responded to the incident, but the fire burned onto land protected by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and is now under unified command. BLM dispatched four engines and a dozer to the fire. BLM's Jared Jablonski said that the fire spread to 114 acres and that the cause was shooting-related. "We also want the public to be aware that even if following the Prevention Order when shooting, starting a wildfire is still possible. Please think twice about shooting on hot, dry and windy days, and always bring water, a fire extinguisher, and a shovel with you," Jablonski said.
KTVB-TV NBC 7 Boise