Grass fire near Eagle burns 440 acres, destroys shed, affects trails. Cause is now known
Fire crews on Thursday continued to work at the scene near Eagle where a fast-spreading grass fire, dubbed the Goose Fire, burned more than 440 acres Wednesday evening and destroyed at least one shed. Investigators also now believe they know the cause of the fire.
The blaze, which was reported at around 5 p.m. Wednesday, caused voluntary evacuations of some homes on the north side of West Hill Road. After several tense hours, with flames visible from blocked-off roads on a windy night, Bureau of Land Management officials said in a tweet at around 8:30 p.m. that active flames were knocked down.
In a Thursday afternoon tweet, Idaho BLM officials reported the actual size of the fire at 441 acres, more than twice as large as the Wednesday night estimates.
Eagle Fire Department Chief Tyler Lewis told the Statesman that a shed was destroyed in the fire, but no primary residences burned. Lewis said fire crews are still working to figure out the full extent of damage in the area.
At around 3:00 p.m. Thursday, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet that investigators believe that fireworks were to blame for the blaze. The Sheriff’s Office said the fireworks were ignited in the middle of West Goose Creek Road, and wind pushed sparks to the south and to the east, into dry grass.
Detectives are investigating leads that could potentially lead to criminal charges. Anyone with information regarding the fire is encouraged to call Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.
Pauly Pierce, who lives on Bogart Lane near Hill Road, told the Idaho Statesman on Thursday that she was out to dinner when a neighbor called her about the fire and said homes near hers were being evacuated. She drove home right away and was stopped by police, who went to her house and retrieved her dog.
“She was glad to see me,” Pierce said with a laugh.
Pierce stayed nearby to make sure the blaze didn’t reach her home or property, as she has multiple sheds and trailers, and some livestock.
“I was a little concerned because I have a hay shed full of hay and I didn’t want that to burn,” she said.
Pierce said she was allowed to return to her home at around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. A 30-year resident of the area, she said Wednesday’s blaze was the farthest south she has seen a fire go.
“I’m very thankful that the firemen and the police, you know, were on their toes, and they did an excellent job,” Pierce said Thursday morning.
Just across the street from Pierce’s home, the charred landscape was still smoldering as firefighters roamed the area for hot spots. Lewis said crews would stay in the area throughout the day on mop-up duty.
On Wednesday evening, the Eagle Fire Department responded to the scene first and was assisted by the BLM, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Boise, Meridian and Star fire departments, according to the Sheriff’s Office. In all, around 30 Treasure Valley fire vehicles battled the blaze.
Sara Grigg, who lives on West Utahna Street near West Hill Road Parkway, a few blocks south of the blaze, said she had just gotten out of the shower and was blow-drying her hair Wednesday night when she smelled smoke. She thought it was the new hairdryer.
“I thought I was just frying my hair,” she told the Idaho Statesman.
When her husband returned from the grocery store, the couple and her in-laws — who live up the road — walked toward the flames to watch the fire.
“It literally looked like a stream of lava on the hillside,” Grigg said.
Idaho Power said in a tweet Thursday that repair crews were called to the area to replace four utility poles damaged in the blaze. The damaged poles were replaced early Thursday morning, according to Idaho Power.
Lewis said some nearby hiking trails were affected by the fire and could be blocked off from east of the Eagle Bike Park to Seamans Gulch. The department has been working with Ridges to Rivers on how best to handle the burned areas.
Ridges to Rivers program manager David Gordon said Thursday that people could still use those trails, though some areas may be impacted by bulldozers that helped with firefighting efforts. Gordon said those on the trails should stay away from blackened areas.
“That allows us the chance to do the best rehab efforts we can,” Gordon said.
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 2:35 PM.
