IDAHO GOES DOWN For most of southern and eastern Idaho, the Pocatello National Weather Service has upgraded a fire weather watch to a red flag warning.
Tuesday afternoon saw the issuance of the red flag warning, which will be in force from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday
“The change from a watch to a warning is based on the confidence that an event may occur within 24 to 30 hours,” National Weather Service meteorologist Jack Messick told EastIdahoNews.com.
The event has to do with the high winds and low humidity that are predicted for Wednesday afternoon.
In addition to critical fuel conditions, the NWS reports that eastern Idaho may see gusts of up to 25 to 30 mph and humidity levels below 15%.
A dry cold front is expected to hit Idaho, increasing wind speed, but Messick anticipates that it will primarily affect the rural areas west of Interstate 15.
According to Messick, the fire would only need to start in one location before spreading to your neighborhood due to the southwest winds.
According to Messick, fires can break out without a fire watch or red flag warning, as was the case with the Garden Creek Fire close to Fort Hall.
The Garden Creek Fire burnt 5,418 acres before being completely contained on Monday, according to the Shoshone Bannock Tribes Tribal Office of Emergency Management Facebook page.
RELATED | Officials confirm that the Garden Creek fire has burned over 5,000 acres and is 80% contained.
Fire departments in eastern Idaho responded to about 22 fire calls over the Fourth of July weekend, some of which had to do with fireworks. Fireworks are thought to be the source of a wildfire that has burned more than 20 acres in Idaho Falls.
RELATED | Although officials warn caution is still necessary, rain may have decreased the chance of a fire this weekend.
According to him, the weather makes thunderstorms conceivable, which raises the possibility that a fire may start.
The counties of Bannock, Bingham, Caribou, Bear Lake, and Oneida are all under fire prohibitions. Because to the local weather, open fires and fireworks are prohibited under the prohibitions.
Officials stress care even though those who own gas or charcoal barbecues and campfires are excluded from the prohibition.
Because of the weather, Messick advises anyone who has fireworks not to light them on Wednesday.
He stated that although the winds would lessen, the weather will be the same on Saturday and Sunday.
“I would recommend a different weekend for that,” Messick said, adding that you must be careful about where your fireworks land.
He asks people who have campfires to watch them closely. In order to put out the fire, he suggested keeping earth or water close by.
According to him, the fire is not completely extinguished if the coals are still warm to the touch.
“We would definitely have a lot less fire activity if everyone did that,” Messick added.
Anyone who witnesses smoke should report it by dialing 911 or 208-524-7600, the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center number.
