Lightning Sparks Range Fires

A red flag warning was announced Friday as a lightning storm ignited fires across southwestern Idaho, setting structures afire and forcing evacuations.

“We’ve got fires all over. Dry fuel, the right winds and lightning,” said Kim Buxton, spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Boise. “We’ve got a red flag warning with 50 mph winds coming out of northeastern Nevada.”

The Initial Point fire near Kuna had jumped South Cole Road and ignited buildings, she said. Local residents near the Snake River Birds of Prey Area were evacuated.

The flames apparently blew over a municipal fire truck on initial attack and a firefighter reportedly was missing.

A blaze also burned near Quail Hollow Golf Course in the Boise Foothills and structures were reportedly destroyed there, Buxton said.

The Twin Butte fire south of Glenns Ferry and west of Hagerman also was sparked by lightning. It had reached 7,000 acres by Friday evening.