A brush fire that broke out Saturday evening on Pocatello’s west bench was quickly brought under control by fire crews before it could damage nearby homes or a critical Idaho Power substation.
The fire ignited around 6 p.m. near Rocky Point Road and spread toward residential properties and the adjacent substation. Before crews arrived and gained control, the blaze burned through several power poles. Idaho Power personnel responded alongside fire crews to repair the damaged poles, and no widespread outages resulted.
The Pocatello Fire Department contained the fire without any injuries, and no evacuations were ordered. Residents in the area were not displaced, and no structural damage to homes was reported. Pocatello police temporarily shut down Rocky Point Road during the response. Firefighters remained on scene until approximately 8 p.m. to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, and the total acreage burned had not yet been released as of this report. The Pocatello Fire Department has opened an investigation into the blaze’s origin.
The incident comes as fire officials across the Pocatello area have warned residents about elevated fire risk heading into the Fourth of July holiday weekend, with dry conditions making vegetation especially susceptible to ignition. Southeast Idaho saw significant fire activity earlier this season, including the Gap Fire near Inkom, which burned nearly 200 acres before reaching full containment.
What Comes Next
Investigators with the Pocatello Fire Department will continue working to determine the origin and cause of the Rocky Point Road fire. Idaho Power is expected to complete pole repairs in the affected area. Residents near Pocatello’s west bench are encouraged to remain alert to fire conditions as dry summer weather persists across Bannock County.