Idaho, 2016Wildfire in Idaho, August 21 to 31, 2016
August 21 to 31, 2016 · NWS PIH · 1 event in 1 county or zone
A wildfire began August 21st 5 to 10 miles east of Idaho Falls and eventually grew to 53,000 acres It was later determined to be human caused. High winds on August 22nd and 23rd caused the rapid growth of the wildfire.
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
A wildfire began August 21st 5 to 10 miles east of Idaho Falls and eventually grew to 53,000 acres It was later determined to be human caused. High winds on August 22nd and 23rd caused the rapid growth of the wildfire. Over 4 million dollars were spent battling the wildfire. Road closures were the following: East Sunnyside from Crescent Drive, the intersection of Bone and Lincoln, Long Valley Road, and roads leading to Ririe Reservoir, including Blacktail, Tex Creek, Meadow Creek and Fall Creek. Residents in the Birch Creek Loop east of Ririe and Moss Avery road were encouraged to evacuate their homes. A disaster declaration was declared for Bonneville county by the Idaho governor. 785 homes were threatened in the Irwin and Swan Valley areas along with Palisades. In the end no lives were lost and no injuries occurred. No houses or cabins were destroyed and only some damage occurred to shed like structurres and telephone poles. Property damage was very minimal. the fire was considered contained and controlled on September 1st.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Pocatello, ID wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 21, 1:06 PM MST, 54 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 21, 1:06 PM MST, 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
206 PM MDT SUN AUG 21 2016
.SHORT TERM...Tonight through Tuesday. Weak shortwave catches
northeast corner of forecast area this evening but little moisture
to work with so only a few clouds expected. Stronger upper low
transitioning through southern Canada will drag a dry cold front
across the region Monday. There is still some uncertainty about
how much moisture will work north of the Utah border but do not
expect much and therefore have kept precip chances quite limited
with only isolated mention in a few places along the state line.
Bigger concern is resulting winds behind passage of the front. 700
mb flow in the 30kt range and sunny skies should mix most of that
down to the surface. Have nudged winds up especially through the
Snake River Plain and higher elevation regions, and have issued a
Lake Wind Advisory for Monday afternoon/evening. Upper low
continues east through southern Canada through Tuesday.
Temperatures drop several degrees for Tuesday, but winds may
remain breezy during the day. DMH
.LONG TERM...Tuesday Night through Sunday...Broad upper level
trough will develop and linger over the region as an anchoring low
forms over western NV late in the week. This upper low in NV
transitions to an open shortwave Friday night and swings east-
northeast through the northern Great Basin on Saturday. Expect
development of isolated convective showers over the central
mountains and along the MT border Wednesday afternoon and evening
as the trough deepens and upper low forms. Very low potential for
convective showers over elevated terrain on Thursday and Friday,
followed by a larger threat of convective showers for Saturday and
Sunday as two upper level shortwaves move over the area.
Temperatures will cool 6 to 10 degrees on Wednesday and remain
mild through the remainder of the week. DSH
&&
.AVIATION...Widespread VFR with breezy southwest winds in the Snake
Plain during daylight hours. DSH
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Timing of cold front passage continues to be
during the day Monday. Surface gradient and mid level flow strong
enough to support windy conditions with gusts over 30 mph many
locations. Have upgraded fire weather watch to red flag warning
and included zones 425 and 413 in the mix. Believe the strongest
winds in 413 will occur in northern half of zone. Cold front
remains dry with little moisture to work with across the region
so have kept any potential precip mention limited to small areas
along the Utah border. Upper low crosses southern Canada into
Tuesday with flow remaining westerly in base of trough. Could
remain breezy to windy into Tuesday as well with guidance
indicating potential for wind gusts near or above red flag
thresholds again. Humidities will remain low so conditions could
be close enough for another headline across the region.
Reinforcing shortwave drops south into East Idaho wednesday
afternoon and a round of convection looks to occur
afternoon/evening. Uncertain how much moisture will be available
to work with but isolated dry thunderstorms not out of the
question so far. Expect a broad trough to remain in place over the
region Friday into the weekend with return of deeper moisture
Friday/Saturday. DMH
&&
.PIH Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
Red Flag Warning from noon to 9 PM MDT Monday for IDZ410-411-413-
422-425-475-476.
Lake Wind Advisory from noon to 9 PM MDT Monday for IDZ021.
&&
Wildfire, Caribou Highlands
- When
- August 21, 2:00 PM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Caribou Highlands forecast zone
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
A wildfire began August 21st 5 to 10 miles east of Idaho Falls and eventually grew to 53,000 acres It was later determined to be human caused. High winds on August 22nd and 23rd caused the rapid growth of the wildfire. Over 4 million dollars were spent battling the wildfire. Road closures were the following: East Sunnyside from Crescent Drive, the intersection of Bone and Lincoln, Long Valley Road, and roads leading to Ririe Reservoir, including Blacktail, Tex Creek, Meadow Creek and Fall Creek. Residents in the Birch Creek Loop east of Ririe and Moss Avery road were encouraged to evacuate their homes. A disaster declaration was declared for Bonneville county by the Idaho governor. 785 homes were threatened in the Irwin and Swan Valley areas along with Palisades. In the end no lives were lost and no injuries occurred. No houses or cabins were destroyed and only some damage occurred to shed like structurres and telephone poles. Property damage was very minimal. the fire was considered contained and controlled on September 1st.
- Wildfire
- A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
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NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 658614.