Fire forces evacuation near Mountain Home

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho – A fast-moving grass fire forced the temporary evacuation of nearly 300 people near here Friday night before firefighters and a timely rainstorm doused most of the flames, an Elmore County sheriff’s spokeswoman said.

First reported about 6 p.m. near the small southern Idaho community of Mayfield, the fire raced across 3,100 acres, spokeswoman Laytreda Schultz said.

About 200 homes were evacuated, with many of the residents taken to Mountain Home High School, she said.

But by 10 p.m., fire crews and heavy rains had extinguished much of the fire and authorities cleared the evacuees to return home, she said.

No buildings were believed to be damaged.