Fires

Firefighters respond to grass fire in Boise Foothills that left thousands without power

The Boise Fire Department responded to a grass fire near the 3000 block of East Starview Drive.
The Boise Fire Department responded to a grass fire near the 3000 block of East Starview Drive. Idaho Statesman

A blown transformer caused a half-acre grass fire and left thousands temporarily without power, according to the Boise Fire Department.

Firefighters responded to the 3000 block of East Starview Drive about 8 p.m. Monday after a power line transformer blew, according to Boise Fire spokesperson Lynsey Amundson and Pulsepoint, an app that allows users to view emergency response information. This site is in Warm Springs Mesa, a neighborhood off Warm Springs Avenue in the Boise Foothills.

Crews contained the fire and were working late to mop up hot spots, Amundson told the Idaho Statesman in a text. No structures were threatened, she added.

Idaho Power was on the way to fix a pole and the transformer and restore power to the area, Amundson said.

Idaho Power spokesperson Brad Bowlin told the Statesman by phone around 9 p.m. that nearly 3,500 residents in the area were without power — and likely without air conditioning.

Nearly an hour later, about 1,100 customers were still affected, according to the power company’s outage map.

Pulsepoint showed that several fire engines along with a battalion chief responded to the fire.

This story was originally published July 22, 2024 at 9:43 PM.

Alex Brizee
Idaho Statesman
Alex Brizee covers criminal justice for the Idaho Statesman. A Miami native and a University of Idaho graduate, she has lived all over the United States. Go Vandals! In her free time, she loves pad Thai, cuddling with her dog and strong coffee. Support my work with a digital subscription
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