Residents Return After Fire Contained

Bannock County residents returned to their homes Monday night after a wildfire burning in juniper trees and brush northeast of Pocatello forced their evacuation.

“The winds were in our favor today,” said Gina Martin, manager of the Interagency Fire Center in Idaho Falls.

The man-caused fire, which was contained at 70 acres, was reported to be 50 feet from at least one home and others had fire retardant foam sprayed around them. It ignited in the Pocatello Creek area, about four miles outside of town.

Three air tankers joined nine engine crews on the ground from the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service. Nine Pocatello smoke jumpers also were called in and bulldozers cut fire breaks.

Martin said she was unsure how many people were evacuated.