‘Unpredictable’ brush fire destroys homes in Mountain Home, causes injuries
A wildfire in Mountain Home on Tuesday night displaced residents and injured law enforcement officers.
A 911 call at 6:58 p.m. alerted authorities about a brush fire in Elmore County near Southwest Fly By Ave and Airbase Road, Mike Winans, Idaho State Police District Three captain, said at a news conference on Wednesday.
Law enforcement did not confirm how many homes were affected.
At a press conference update later Wednesday afternoon, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office and ISP said there were no civilian casualties, but they could not say whether there were injuries, according to Winans.
Emergency responders quickly initiated evacuations Tuesday for residents in the fire’s path. The fire grew to about 250 acres, according to wildfire alert nonprofit Watch Duty.
The fire destroyed multiple structures near Southwest Smith Road in Mountain Home, according to Winans. He said officials were still working to confirm how many residents and homes were affected.
All residents except for those who lived on Southwest High Desert Drive, which saw significant damage, were allowed to return to their homes at about midnight, the Mountain Home Air Force Base said in a social media post. Displaced military families were taken to the base.
“As of this morning, emergency crews are assessing the scene with the advantage of daylight,” Winans said. “The fire is now 100% contained, except for hot spots that fire crews are actively mitigating at this time. There is no current risk to the community.”
Because of the fire’s size and intensity, emergency crews faced difficulties while attempting to verify that all residents had safely left ahead of the blaze.
“The fire was driven by high winds, making its path unpredictable and challenging for emergency responders,” Winans said.
Six law enforcement officers were injured during evacuation efforts, according to Winans. The police captain said only one person remained in the hospital as of Wednesday morning.
At the later press conference, Elmore County Sheriff Mike Hollinshead said that a female deputy was the one still hospitalized, and that she should be discharged in a few days.
Winans stated that while the deputy was aiding in evacuations, the winds shifted and the fire came incredibly close, trapping her.
“The bravery that I witnessed with law enforcement and first responders last night was amazing,” Winans said. “We had people on the ground that were going door to door advising residents of the situation. … I think that people need to understand how fast this situation evolved with the wind that was going on, and the weather conditions.”
Areas closed off after the fire are back open to local citizens including Southwest Smith Road for local citizens, Winans said.
Elmore County issued a local disaster declaration at about 10 p.m. Tuesday. The American Red Cross opened a shelter for displaced families at the Elks Lodge, located at 325 3rd W. St. in Mountain Home.
Anyone affected by the fire is encouraged to contact the Red Cross duty agent at 406-215-1514.
Resources are available to those who have been displaced including temporary housing, food and clothing assistance and counseling services, Winans said.
The investigation into the fire and its cause is ongoing.
“The state fire marshal is diligently working with investigators and other relevant authorities to determine the origin and cause,” Winans said Wednesday afternoon.
This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 12:41 PM.
