Wildfires burning near American Falls cause evacuations, destroy potato cellar before being contained

AMERICAN FALLS — Firefighters have contained several wildfires that ignited Tuesday along the railroad tracks between Seagull Bay and American Falls, causing evacuations and destroying a potato cellar.

The fires ignited around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday and quickly began burning away from the tracks and toward nearby homes.

The wildfires scorched about 50 acres and destroyed a potato cellar before being contained.

As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters had contained all the blazes and were extinguishing the remaining hot spots.

Several homes were evacuated because of the fires but none of the residences suffered any damage. The flames did burn to within 20 yards of one home before firefighters pushed them back.

All of the evacuated residents have been allowed to return to their homes.

Authorities said the blazes did not result in any injuries.

Firefighters from Power and Bannock counties, the Fort Hall Reservation and Bureau of Land Management responded to the fires along with Power County sheriff’s deputies.

The Power County Sheriff’s Office said the cause of the fires remains under investigation.