A wildfire burning on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in Power County exploded to 1,000 acres Saturday afternoon after reigniting less than 24 hours after crews declared it contained, prompting a multi-agency response roughly 10 miles west of Pocatello.
The Michaud Creek Fire was first reported just after noon Friday, south of Interstate 86. By early Friday afternoon it had grown to nearly 65 acres before Fort Hall Fire Department personnel declared it contained at 1:43 p.m. That declaration proved premature. The fire came back to life around 11 a.m. Saturday, and its growth accelerated rapidly through the afternoon — reaching 500 acres by 1 p.m. and doubling again to 1,000 acres by 2 p.m.
Multiple Agencies Respond as Fire Spreads Quickly
The speed of Saturday’s growth drew resources from across the region. Fort Hall Fire and North Bannock Fire crews worked side by side to battle the expanding blaze, and the Pocatello Fire Department dispatched two brush trucks to provide additional support. The coordination reflects the kind of mutual-aid response that fire officials across Southeast Idaho routinely rely on during wildfire events, particularly when conditions allow a fire to spread faster than a single department can manage alone.
Officials noted that the fire burned past a powerplant and was advancing eastward into the Simplot area as of Saturday afternoon. As of the latest update, no structures were reported to be in danger. “It has burned past the powerplant and was headed east. Currently the fire is in the Simplot area. There are no structures endangered,” according to information reported by Sho-Ban News.
The original fire is believed to have been human-caused, though the cause of Saturday’s reignition had not been released as of the most recent update. Wind conditions in the region may be a contributing factor — the National Weather Service in Pocatello issued a Wind Advisory for Southeast Idaho that has kept conditions challenging for firefighters working across the area this weekend.
Fort Hall Reservation Fire Activity Raises Concerns for Surrounding Communities
The Fort Hall Indian Reservation spans a significant portion of the Snake River Plain in this part of Idaho, and fires on reservation land near major transportation corridors and industrial infrastructure can carry broad consequences. Interstate 86, which runs near the fire’s location, connects Pocatello to the broader regional highway network, and the Simplot agricultural operations in the area represent substantial economic assets in the region.
The rapid expansion from roughly 65 acres Friday afternoon to 1,000 acres by Saturday afternoon underscores how quickly conditions can deteriorate when a fire reignites and finds dry fuel. Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions were actively working the fire as of the most recent update, and efforts to bring it under control were ongoing.
Residents in the Pocatello and Chubbuck areas were urged to monitor fire conditions given the proximity of the blaze to the metro area. Anyone observing smoke or fire activity in the area should contact local emergency dispatch rather than attempt to approach the fire perimeter.
What Comes Next
Fire officials had not released a containment estimate or an updated acreage figure beyond the 1,000-acre mark reported Saturday afternoon as of press time. The cause of the reignition remains under investigation. With multiple agencies now engaged, crews will work to establish containment lines and prevent further eastward spread toward more densely developed areas. Weather conditions, including wind patterns, will play a significant role in how quickly crews can gain the upper hand. Updates from the Fort Hall Fire Department and cooperating agencies are expected as the situation develops. Bannock County News will continue to monitor this fire and provide updates as information becomes available. For the latest on statewide fire activity, visit Idaho News.