Lightning Touches Off Two Range Fires

Two lightning-caused range fires kept Bureau of Land Management firefighters busy on Labor Day, burning at least 1,650 acres.

The 150-acre Fossil Beds Fire just southwest of Hagerman was contained late Monday afternoon. But the Indian Ridge Fire grew to about 1,500 acres in old, heavy growths of sagebrush about 10 miles southwest of Hagerman, making it the largest range fire of the year, the Bureau of Land Management said.

No structures were threatened and no injuries were reported from either fire. Crews were getting the upper hand on the Indian Ridge Fire late Monday, but officials had no estimated time of containment.

Although no lightning had been in the area for several hours before the blazes were reported about 11:30 a.m., investigators at the scene said both were caused by lightning early Monday morning. Both sites received some rain when the lightning passed through, and embers apparently smoldered until winds and the heat of the day caused them to flare up and spread.

In all, about 35 firefighters from Shoshone and Boise battled the fires, with six engines and two bulldozers, two helicopters, two air tankers and one air spotter plane.

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