Evacuations lifted for Eagle residents. Wildfire near Idaho 55 contained

Desmond Milligan · August 19

Officials ordered some Eagle residents to evacuate late Monday afternoon as a wildfire threatened homes, but in a matter of hours, the work of fire crews allowed them to return.

The Eagle Fire Department told residents living north of Beacon Light Road between Holl Drive and North Brookside Lane to leave immediately by issuing a Level 1 “Go Now” alert at about 5:30 p.m., the result of a fast-moving brush fire.

“Eagle Fire is notifying you of a Brush Fire in the area of Star Vista,” the alert said. “Calmly Evacuate this area. Be aware and follow instructions from first responders.”

By 7:40 p.m. the evacuation orders were lifted for west of Idaho 55 and homeowners were able to go back to their properties, the Eagle Fire Department said. Crews contained the fire and were remaining at the site throughout the night to continue mop up and work toward having it extinguished.

The Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation order was also dropped for residents living east of Idaho 55.

Firefighters battle to save a home as wind-driven flames climb a hillside north of Beacon Light Road in Eagle on Monday.

Ada County residents can sign up for the local CodeRED alert system for immediate evacuation notifications here. The full map of the Level 1 evacuation zone is located here and the Level 2 evacuation zone is here.

A reunification site for evacuated residents was set up at 12655 N. Horseshoe Bend Road, adjacent to the Chevron gas station near the northwest Boise border, the fire department said.

Eagle Fire reported on social media that the fire had grown to at least 100 acres by about 6 p.m. The fire was spreading east, down a canyon toward the East Connolly Lane area, according to wildfire alert nonprofit Watch Duty.

At least 27 responding units were at the scene of the fire, according to the PulsePoint emergency alert system.

It’s not known how the fire started.

“We encourage folks to avoid the area and allow emergency responders to do their jobs,” Lauren Montague, an Ada County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, said by email.