A fast-moving wildfire in Bannock County burned through 200 acres Sunday afternoon in the Portneuf Gap area between Pocatello and Inkom, prompting a temporary evacuation order for residents along Canyon Road before firefighters helped stabilize the situation by early evening.
The fire was first reported around 1:45 p.m. near the 6000 block of West Old Highway 91. Fueled by dry grass and brush, it expanded rapidly — jumping from an estimated 20 acres to roughly 200 acres in just under two hours. The quick spread prompted authorities to issue an evacuation order for a small cluster of structures west of Inkom along Canyon Road. That order was lifted by 7:10 p.m.
Multiple Agencies Respond
The Bureau of Land Management is serving as the lead agency on the fire. The U.S. Wildland Fire Service Great Basin Unit 3 out of Idaho Falls and the U.S. Forest Service are both providing assistance. The Forest Service deployed a Helicopter Bucket Crew to help attack the blaze from the air.
As of a BLM update issued at 7:35 p.m., no estimated containment time had been provided. The agency urged the public to stay clear of the area. “Firefighter and public safety is the highest priority,” the BLM stated. “Please avoid the area and give the firefighters room to work.”
Cause Under Investigation
The cause of the fire had not been determined as of the time of the most recent update. Eastern Idaho has faced persistently dry conditions that increase the risk of fast-spreading wildfires, particularly in grassland and brushy terrain like the Portneuf Gap corridor.
The Portneuf Gap sits along a well-traveled stretch of land between two communities and near active transportation and energy infrastructure corridors in southeastern Idaho. The involvement of federal land management agencies, including BLM and the Forest Service, reflects how common it is for wildfires in this part of the state to cross a patchwork of public and private land.
Residents in and around Inkom are encouraged to monitor official channels for updates as firefighting operations continue. No injuries were reported as of the latest information available.
For broader coverage of federal land and energy developments in eastern Idaho, including ongoing work at the Idaho National Laboratory site, visit Bonneville County News. Additional statewide fire and environmental news is available at idahonews.co.