A wildfire that broke out between Inkom and Pocatello on Sunday afternoon was fully contained by Monday evening, bringing relief to residents along a stretch of Old Highway 91 in Bannock County.
The Gap Fire ignited around 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 21, near the 6,000 block of W. Old Highway 91 in Inkom. Within roughly two hours, the blaze had grown to approximately 200 acres, prompting officials to issue an evacuation order at around 4:40 p.m. for residents along W. Old Highway 91 near Veterans Memorial Highway, from the Grant Avenue intersection north to Old Canyon Drive.
The evacuation order was lifted that same evening around 7 p.m. as crews made progress against the flames. By 6 p.m. Monday, June 22, firefighters achieved 100% containment. The final mapped size of the fire came in at 199.3 acres.
Responding agencies included the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Great Basin Unit 3 out of Idaho Falls, the U.S. Forest Service, and several cooperating agencies. Crews were expected to remain on scene in the days following containment to monitor for hot spots.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
What Comes Next
Fire personnel will continue patrolling the burn area for smoldering hot spots in the coming days. Residents in the area should remain aware of any smoke activity and follow guidance from local emergency management officials. Updates on the cause investigation are expected as the inquiry continues.