Two Fires Join, Rage Out Of Control Range Fire That Killed 2 Volunteer Firefighters Brought Under Control

High winds on Sunday combined two lightning-caused fires on Bureau of Land Management land 35 miles southwest of Glenns Ferry. Firefighters expected a third fire to join the blaze overnight.

The third fire was burning about 2 miles from the Tuana Complex fire, which was burning about 100,000 acres Sunday night. The fire was burning toward the Bruneau Canyon rim and firefighters hoped the rocky ground would help to slow the spread of the blaze, said Jerry Rohnert, fire information officer for the Bureau of Land Management in Boise.

Nearby, The Twin Buttes fire, about 12 miles south of Glenns Ferry and 10 miles west of Hagerman, has charred an estimated 35,000 acres. Firefighters do not expect those two to join.

Meanwhile, the fire that killed two southwestern Idaho volunteer firefighters was controlled Sunday after burning 10,000 acres.

The men called for help before they were killed by flames from a lightning-sparked wildfire that was swept over their stalled tanker truck by gusting wind Friday night.

Gov. Phil Batt and his wife, Jacque, expressed their sympathy for Bill Buttram’s, 31, and Josh Oliver’s, 18, families on Saturday.

Buttram, who worked at the Idaho State Penitentiary, was married and had a 1-yearold son. Oliver was single and worked at a Meridian feed store.

“I’m shocked at the terrible tragedy,” said Batt, in Burlington, Vt., to attend the National Governors’ Association conference.

Lightning on Friday and Saturday caused about 90 fire starts in the Boise National Forest, but nearly all were out by Sunday and only two grew to over 7 acres.

A wet spring and early summer caused lush growth of grasses and brush on Idaho rangelands. But recent hot weather has dried out the vegetation, creating extreme fire danger.

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