You could call them the heroes of Heise.
For two straight nights this past weekend, a crew of 126 firefighters has stood between the Big Rock Fire and dozens of homes near Heise — and so far, they haven’t lost a single one.
Firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, the Idaho Department of Lands and fire departments from Bonneville, Madison and Jefferson counties have been defending an enormous footprint of property from the flames: 30 to 40 homes, roughly 100 outbuildings, Kelly Canyon Resort, Heise Resort and 7N Ranch, according to fire officials interviewed Sunday afternoon.
The math is staggering. Against a wildfire estimated between 2,400 and 2,500 acres, 126 firefighters have kept every one of those structures standing except for two unused sheds — a feat fire officials themselves described as “pretty heroic.”
It hasn’t been easy and it isn’t over. Fire officials said crews are stretched thin and they won’t be getting help anytime soon — with major wildfires burning across the West, no reinforcements are coming. For the first two days, The 126 firefighters currently on scene was all there was.
Overnight Saturday into Sunday morning, the fire broke through containment lines on its west flank in Madison County, forcing more evacuations. Rather than trying to hold a broken line, crews fell back to defend individual homes directly — and didn’t lose a single structure, fire officials said.
That overnight intensity has been unusual. Wildfires typically slow down after dark, as dropping temperatures and rising humidity sap a fire’s energy — giving firefighters a nightly window to gain ground. The Big Rock Fire hasn’t followed that pattern. In its first two nights, the fire continued spreading aggressively after sunset, denying crews the overnight reprieve they’d normally count on.
Sunday brought no rest. Winds Sunday afternoon and evening are expected to reach 30 mph or more, and fire officials said crews were braced for another rough night. Firefighters spent a significant amount of time Sunday building new containment lines around the fire, anticipating the same wind conditions that have fueled the blaze’s explosive growth could do it again.
As of Monday, there is no estimate yet for containment or control.
Fire officials have confirmed the Big Rock Fire was caused by lightning. It was first reported near Heise, a small community northeast of Idaho Falls, around 5:30 p.m. Friday and quickly consumed about 200 acres before exploding in size on Saturday to over 2,000 acres, nearly 10 miles from the Teton County line.
Despite the scale of the blaze and the brutal conditions crews are working in — including 100-degree daytime highs Saturday and rugged, sometimes vehicle-inaccessible terrain — there have been no injuries reported as a result of the fire, something fire officials called incredible given the circumstances. Officials don’t have an exact count of how many people have been evacuated so far, but said it is safe to say dozens of residents have been forced from their homes since the fire began.
The community has responded in kind. Fire officials said local residents and businesses have been dropping off food, water and Gatorade at fire stations and checkpoints near the fire, with local restaurants pitching in donated meals for crews working around the clock.
“That’s impressive,” fire crews were overheard saying, according to a Sunday Facebook update from Jefferson County officials, who said the outpouring of community support “has not gone unnoticed.”
As of Sunday, Jefferson County said fire crews had the hydration, food and supplies they need, and additional donations are no longer necessary. The evacuation shelter at South Fork Elementary School in Rexburg, managed by the American Red Cross, is not accepting donations.
“Everyone at the scene has expressed tremendous gratitude for the way our community has come together to support firefighters, first responders, and those affected by the fire,” Jefferson County officials said. “Thank you, Jefferson County. Your kindness and willingness to help have made a difference.”
Fire officials said what’s most noteworthy about all the donations firefighters have received from the community is that the assistance was unsolicited. Local residents and restaurants saw the need and took action on their own.
Officials encouraged residents to continue checking on neighbors and to rely on official channels for updates.
The fire’s toll on the region has continued to shift day by day. The evacuation area along South Snake River Road, which had been placed under a full “Go” evacuation order early Sunday after the fire crossed containment lines, was downgraded Sunday afternoon back to “Ready” status, allowing residents to return home to check on their properties. Roads in that area remain closed to the general public and officials are asking non-residents to stay out of the area entirely, including anyone hoping to view the fire.
A Level 3 “Go” evacuation order remains in effect for all homes and campgrounds north of Heise, extending north to Lyons Creek Road and 9000 South, and east to 7000 East, just west of Luthy Meadows, as well as for residences north of the Snake River from Heise Hot Springs east to the “Y” at Kelly Canyon and Forest Service Road 218, extending north to East 12000. Table Rock and Wolf Flats campground areas remain under a Level 2 “Set” evacuation warning. Residents can check whether they’re in a Ready, Set or Go zone at warn.pbs.org.
Every road into Heise and Kelly Canyon remains sealed off, and officials say they’ll stay that way until fire crews say it’s safe.
The fire’s reach extends well beyond dry land. The Bureau of Land Management issued a formal closure order Saturday shutting down BLM-managed lands, roads, campgrounds and trails throughout the South Fork of the Snake River Canyon from Conant Boat Access to Byington Boat Access, prohibiting all river camping through Aug. 10. The South Fork is also closed to boaters from Byington Boat Access downstream. The Cress Creek and Stinking Springs trails, along with every other hiking and biking trail in the Kelly Canyon and Heise areas, are closed as well. Violators could be tried before a U.S. magistrate, fined and imprisoned for up to 12 months, according to the formal order.
The Idaho Department of Lands has also temporarily closed state endowment lands in the Kelly Canyon block south of Moody Creek, about 5 miles east of Ririe.
Fire officials continue to plead with the public to keep drones out of the area entirely — unauthorized drone activity can force helicopters and air tankers to ground immediately, halting the very air operations crews depend on most.
“If you fly, we can’t,” officials have repeatedly warned.
As fire mitigation and prevention efforts continue throughout the region, Teton County, Idaho Fire and Rescue is on track to hire a Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator, with a goal of establishing the position by November 1.
As of July, the Teton Valley Wildfire Mitigation Fund (TVWMF) has exceeded its goal to raise $160,000 to pay one-third of the Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator’s salary for three years. The Nature Conservancy is committed to funding another third of the salary, and Teton County will pay the remaining third of the cost for the position. TVWMF relies on Community donations for its efforts, which will also go to purchase wildfire modeling software to assist the county in its planning and mitigation. Because of this, they have expanded their goal to raise more than $200,000 this summer.
“The software will look at how potential fires will move through the valley and identify places to create defensible space around existing homes, and firebreaks to prevent the spread of wildfires,” said TVWMF spokesman Jeff Carter. “We’ve just raised an additional $20,000 to meet the match from Teton Aviation, and they’re also going to offer some condos that they own in the Valley at well below market pr