Firefighters with help from air tankers are battling a 500-acre Southeast Idaho wildfire that is burning near structures.
The blaze was reported around 3:30 p.m. Thursday about 13 miles north of Preston in Franklin County. Authorities said the wildfire is burning between Johnson and Treasureton roads and as of Thursday night the blaze was 50 percent contained.
The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation, according to the East Idaho Interagency Fire Center in Idaho Falls. Thus far the flames have not caused any injuries or evacuations and no structures are immediately threatened, though authorities said the fire is burning near structures. The blaze is currently on the move, torching trees in rugged terrain, the fire center said.
But firefighters believe they will be able to contain the fire by late Friday night. There's no estimation yet on when the fire will be extinguished.