Firefighters battling small wildfire on INL desert site

IDAHO FALLS — Firefighters are working to contain a small wildfire near the northern boundary of the Idaho National Laboratory’s desert site.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s INL Emergency Operations Center was activated in response to the fire.

INL and Bureau of Land Management firefighters are currently battling a 150 acre blaze in the Birch Creek area east of Idaho Highway 22, near mile marker 35. Lightning was reported to have ignited sagebrush and grass.

Thunderstorms and high winds are expected to continue in the area, according to an INL emergency notification.

As a precaution, personnel in the area were evacuated, but there is no danger to the public.

EastIdahoNews.com will update this article if more details are released.