The Idaho Falls Fire Department responded to a vegetation fire early this morning, December 14, at Hatch Pit in Bonneville County, situated at East 33rd North and Recycle Road.
The alarm was raised around 2:44 a.m. when reports came in about flames reaching up to 20 feet high. When fire units arrived, they found that a large stack of pallets and a wood pile were ablaze, not the active trash pit. The cause of this incident remains undetermined.
Primary Focus on Containment
Firefighters, in collaboration with landfill staff, focused their efforts on confining the blaze to this specific pile
The blaze, affecting an area of approximately one acre with a height of 10 to 12 feet, had an underlying layer known as duff, composed of chipped wood and estimated to be 2 to 4 feet deep. Firefighters, in collaboration with landfill staff, concentrated their efforts on confining the blaze to this specific pile.
The Idaho Falls Fire Department dispatched five units along with a battalion chief, while mutual aid came in the form of water tender units from both Ucon Fire and Bonneville County Fire. The primary mission was to prevent the flames from spreading further into the duff layer or igniting nearby areas. Additional information will be shared as developments occur.
Ongoing Monitoring and Safety Precautions
After nearly 11 hours of tireless work, fire crews were cleared from the scene around 1:40 p.m., having determined that there was no persisting emergency. However, county employees continue to monitor the affected pile to ensure safety measures are upheld. It is expected that some smoke and minor flames might be visible over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Hatch Pit crews are actively working to maintain the fire's containment and have been instructed on the measures to take and when to call the Idaho Falls Fire Department should any complications arise.
