These are the areas you need to avoid as wildfire burns on edge of Boise neighborhoods

The Boise Fire Department sent an alert to cellphones for residents to avoid the Foothills as crews battle the Valley Fire that burned close to homes in the eastern portion of the city.

Boise District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Boise Fire Department responded to a fire about one mile east of Boise on the north side of Idaho 21 just after 4 a.m. Friday morning, according to a press release from the city. People are asked to avoid the area until further notice, as drivers and onlookers can have an impact on fire operations.

In the Foothills, people should avoid the area north of Warm Springs Avenue, east of Wild Horse Lane and Table Rock Road and west of Idaho 21, said Haley Williams, a Boise Fire spokesperson. The cellphone alert was sent by Idaho State Police, she said.

Warm Springs Avenue was closed Friday morning from Eckert Road to Idaho 21 “for the safety of firefighters and the public,” the press release said. Idaho 21 to Idaho City remained open.

The Valley Fire has spread to 3,500 acres.

Residents remain on alert as the public safety officials have issues various evacuation-readiness notices in the area.

This story was originally published October 4, 2024 at 3:51 PM.

Vincent Medina

Idaho Statesman

Vincent Medina is a service journalism reporting intern at the Idaho Statesman. He grew up in Los Angeles county, California, and was previously a summer reporting intern at The Sacramento Bee before accepting an extension in Boise. If you like reading stories like his, please consider supporting his work with a digital subscription.