Forest Service, BLM and county officials outline large wildfire projects and staffing plans near Pocatello

Chris Cole, a U.S. Forest Service official who said he is serving as the interim detailer, told the Bannock County Board of Commissioners on May 1 that the Forest Service is managing several large projects aimed at forest health and reducing wildfire spread near Pocatello.

Cole said the Raley Canyon project covers about 1,400 acres, with roughly 750 acres completed to date, and is focused on wildlife winter-range improvements and reducing potential fire spread. He described a second project, Stone King, as a roughly 3,000-acre thinning effort that abuts Bannock County across the Caribou County line; about 250 acres of thinning have been completed there. Cole also outlined the Lower Toponce project — an approximately 12,000-acre effort around Pocatello intended to reduce wildland-urban interface fire risk, improve forest health and reduce fuels.

Those projects, Cole said, will include mechanical treatments and, where appropriate, logging. He told commissioners that the Forest Service is seeking to pace treatments to avoid major disruption to recreation while still addressing fire risk. Cole also said road improvements have been completed on the “0 and 3 Road” from Inman to Big Springs and that the lower gate on that road will open May 15; the upper gate is expected to open about June 15.

Mike Johnston, fire program manager for the Caribou‑Targhee National Forest, reviewed staffing and equipment. Johnston said the forest manages a 20-person Type 2 initial attack crew stationed in Island Park, three helicopters (one Type 1 and two Type 3), and 12 fire engines. He said both Type 3 helicopters typically become available after June 20, following training and contract inspections, and that one engine from Dubois was loaned to Salmon-Challis while another may be moved to Pocatello because of stronger staffing there. He also said a 10-person fire module based in Montpelier is available.

Johnston described turnover in overhead positions and some vacancies that could stretch staffing capacity, but he said the forest is focusing on preparedness for the season. He also described a new “subgeographic agreement” intended to supplement existing cooperative mobilization agreements (ICMAs) so fire departments across East Idaho can share personnel and resources more easily during incidents.

Blaine Newman, field manager for the Bureau of Land Management(Pocatello Field Office), introduced two recently hired agency administrators and offered the BLMofficeas a coordination contact for county officials. Wes Jones of the Bannock County Office of Emergency Management said local agencies are using the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) to identify and prioritize mitigation projects and to improve community outreach about fire risk and preparedness.

Commissioners and other attendees asked about public concerns. Cole said a recent public meeting on the Lower Toponce project drew “several hundred people,” many of whom were worried about changes to recreational opportunities and the forest’s appearance; he said staff emphasized a slower, phased approach meant to preserve recreation while reducing fuels.

Officials identified places where staffing or agreements remain a focus: engine staffing gaps in Dubois; the national availability of the Type 1 helicopter (which can be reassigned to higher-priority national incidents); and the need to sign subgeographic or individual agreements with local fire departments that do not yet have ICMAs. Johnston said those agreements and the network of local and federal partners are intended to increase capacity for both local responses and mutual aid.

The presentation concluded with officials inviting ongoing coordination and providing contact information for rapid notification if fires begin. Commissioners did not take formal action on the projects at the meeting.