Crews fight 9 fires in Boise area. Some may have been intentional, sheriff’s office says

At least some of the nine fires that blazed through the Treasure Valley early Friday may have been set intentionally, Ada County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Patrick Orr told the Idaho Statesman.

Bureau of Land Management spokesperson Caleb Ashby told the Statesman by email that the fires began around midnight and have been contained. The fires were on lands managed by the BLM, U.S. Forest Service and Idaho Department of Lands. Crews were still at the fire scenes as of early Friday afternoon and expected the fires to be controlled by Friday evening.

Orr said that the location of the fires, times of ignition and other information gathered overnight indicate the possibility they were intentional. The sheriff’s office is still investigating exact causes.

A Twitter post by the Bureau of Land Management showed the location of six of the fires. At least five were along Idaho 21 and Interstate 84. One fire was located above Hidden Springs near Idaho 55. Ashby said no injuries were reported.

The largest fires reached 13 acres, Ashby said — one near the South Eisenman exit along I-84 and another on the north side of I-84 near the Blacks Creek Exit. The fires burned a total of about 60 acres.

“Quick response from fire crews kept the fires small,” Ashby said.

Ashby said the loss to wildlife and endangered plants was minimal because the fire sites were small.

The tweet, which was posted around 3 a.m., said cooler nighttime temperatures, increased humidity and local resources were helping crews suppress the fires.

The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information to call 208-577-3770 or email tmceachern@adacounty.id.gov.