50-acre wildfire east of Boise quickly spreads, prompting evacuation alerts

Desmond Milligan · August 13

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A quickly growing wildfire prompted evacuation alerts for residents around Robie Creek, a rural community east of Boise on Idaho 21.

The Boise County Sheriff’s Office issued the most severe evacuation order — Level 3 “Go Now!” — around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday for residents in the Robie Creek Area, which includes Lower Robie, Flowing Springs and Burnett Lane, but dropped the order to Level 2 by 7:30 p.m. and to Level 1 by 9:15 p.m. Those in Wilderness Ranch, a subdivision north of Robie Creek, also reached Level 2, which means being ready to evacuate at any moment.

All alerts were at Level 1, “Be ready,” as of 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, the sheriff’s office reported on Facebook.

Residents evacuating must travel toward Clear Creek Road to leave the area, as Robie Creek Road is blocked, the sheriff’s office said. The Idaho City Rodeo Ground is open for those in the area needing a place to keep their livestock.

Just before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, the wildfire began along Robie Creek Road at mile marker 3.5, spreading within 30 minutes and quickly triggering evacuations, according to the sheriff’s office. Within 15 minutes, the evacuation order jumped to the most severe level. The Idaho Department of Lands said in a news release that the fire was estimated at 50 acres, and one structure has been impacted.

Three engines from the Idaho Department of Lands, two U.S. Forest Service engines and a Forest Service crew responded to assist the Robie Creek Fire Department, the Thorn Creek Fire Department and the Wilderness Ranch Fire Department. Aerial resources are being used to attack the fire, along with water from Lucky Peak Lake. People are asked to “keep clear of the area.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation, according to the Idaho Department of Lands. Updates on the evacuations will be posted on the Boise County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/boisecountysheriff.

_{Investigative reporter Nicole Blanchard contributed.}

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