Idaho, 2017Wildfire in Idaho, August 4 to 12, 2017
August 4 to 12, 2017 · NWS PIH · 1 event in 1 county or zone
The Powerline Fire began on August 4th 7 miles southeast of American Falls and burned grass, sage brush and juniper. Strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly on the 5th finally reaching the size of 55,529 acres.
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $10,000
- 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.
The Powerline Fire began on August 4th 7 miles southeast of American Falls and burned grass, sage brush and juniper. Strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly on the 5th finally reaching the size of 55,529 acres. The fire destroyed 6 outbuildings and 20 homes were threatened but not destroyed as flames reached 40 feet in length. The fire was determined to be human caused. Falling ash from the fire occurred in the city of Pocatello overnight on the 5th into the day on the 6th. Arbon Valley Highway had to be closed and many other nearby roads also were closed. Evacuations of the endangered homes was required. Michaud Creek Road, Mink Creek Road, and Trail Creek Road all closed and campers along the south fork of Mink Creek were evacuated along with resident of Pauline. One power pole was burned down and power lines downed briefly cutting power to 30 customers. The fire was 100 percent contained on August 11th.
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 4, 12:51 PM MST, 5 hours 9 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 12:51 PM MST, 5 hours 9 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pocatello ID
151 PM MDT Fri Aug 4 2017
.DISCUSSION...Satellite imagery was showing a low pressure
disturbance digging SE through Alberta toward NE Montana early this
afternoon while a weak disturbance that was positioned off the NW
coast yesterday is being entrained in the flow and advancing toward
CNTRL Idaho. Numerical models continue to show elevated 700mb flow
aloft over the SRN mountains which should mix down as wind gusts
later this afternoon and evening supporting the Red Flag warning in
that area today (see more on that below). In addition, the weak
disturbance that was passing through the CNTRL mountains should
provide enough lift and moisture to support convective buildups
along the SW Montana border where increasing instability was
observed on satellite imagery. Thus have re-introduced a slight
chance mention of thunderstorms in that area for this evening.
Models continue to show some reinforcing energy trailing into
Montana Saturday and thus have re-introduced a slight chance mention
of thunderstorms along the SW Montana border. Further west,
satellite imagery was showing a sub-tropical disturbance (the
remnants of TS IRWIN) lifting north off the NRN California coast.
Numerical models bring this system inland Sunday with an increasing
chance of thunderstorm activity anticipated across SE Idaho Monday
through Thursday as this system progresses slowly east through the
Great Basin. Some drying follows by Friday as the ridge attempts to
rebound across the region while residual moisture fuels isolated
thunderstorm activity. A noticeable drop in daytime highs is
expected next week as increased thunderstorm activity provides some
shading. Huston
&&
.AVIATION...Expect VFR conditions today as well as through the
weekend. A weak and mostly dry system is starting to move into the
area bringing breezy to moderate winds with gusts of 20 to 25 mph
particularly across our Southwest areas. There is a slight chance of
thunderstorms across our Northeast areas along the Montana/Wyoming
borders late this afternoon into early evening. Wyatt
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...A weak and mostly dry system is starting to move
into the area. Expect breezy to moderate winds with gusts of 20 to
25 mph particularly across our Southwest areas this afternoon
through early evening. The combination of gusty winds and low
humidity will create dangerous fire conditions this afternoon and a
red flag warning is in effect for Southeast Idaho fire zones 427 and
413 below 6000 feet. Also, there is a slight chance of thunderstorms
across our Northeast areas along the Montana/Wyoming borders late
this afternoon into early evening. Breezy conditions are possible
once again on Saturday. However, winds will be lighter than today.
Moisture starts to make its way into the area early next week as a
system off the California coast starts to bring moisture into our
area. Expect isolated thunderstorms by Monday and increase in
coverage Tuesday and continue through the remainder of the week.
Wyatt
&&
.PIH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning continues until 9 PM MDT this evening for IDZ413-
427.
&&
Wildfire, South Central Highlands
- When
- August 4, 6:00 PM MST to August 12, 7:00 AM MST
- Where
- South Central Highlands forecast zone
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
The Powerline Fire began on August 4th 7 miles southeast of American Falls and burned grass, sage brush and juniper. Strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly on the 5th finally reaching the size of 55,529 acres. The fire destroyed 6 outbuildings and 20 homes were threatened but not destroyed as flames reached 40 feet in length. The fire was determined to be human caused. Falling ash from the fire occurred in the city of Pocatello overnight on the 5th into the day on the 6th. Arbon Valley Highway had to be closed and many other nearby roads also were closed. Evacuations of the endangered homes was required. Michaud Creek Road, Mink Creek Road, and Trail Creek Road all closed and campers along the south fork of Mink Creek were evacuated along with resident of Pauline. One power pole was burned down and power lines downed briefly cutting power to 30 customers. The fire was 100 percent contained on August 11th.
- 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.
- Damaging Winds in Ohio, August 4, 20171 death · $152,000 · 50 kt wind · 10 events
- Flash Flooding in Louisiana, August 4 to 5, 2017$5.0 million · 2 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in New York, August 4, 2017$286,000 · 1 in hail · 26 events
- Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, August 4 to 5, 2017$154,000 · 78 kt wind · 38 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, August 4, 2017$119,000 · 1 in hail · 30 events
- Tornado and Flash Flood in Georgia, August 4, 2017$100,000 · EF1 · 2 events
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in New York, August 4, 2017$56,000 · 65 kt wind · 16 events
- Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, August 4, 2017$56,000 · 50 kt wind · 7 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in New York, August 4, 2017$31,000 · 50 kt wind · 14 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Ohio, August 4, 2017$33,000 · 1 in hail · 10 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in West Virginia, August 4, 2017$32,000 · 50 kt wind · 6 events
- Tornado and Flash Flood in New York, August 4, 2017$2,000 · 1 in hail · 29 events
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: 718424.