Vegetation fire sparks in the Boise Foothills, grows to more than 1,500 acres

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — A fast-moving wildfire burning in the Boise foothills has prompted evacuations, trail closures and a large multi-agency response as crews work to keep flames away from homes.

Boise Fire responded to the vegetation fire, known as the Claremont Fire, after reports came in at 1:30 p.m. about a fire in the Boise foothills near Crestline and Mountain Cove. Dispatch information on PulsePoint placed the fire in a foothills neighborhood near Crestline Drive and Claremont Drive.

The fire began moving uphill, and air resources were requested, according to Watch Duty. Early estimates put the fire at roughly 2,000 acres.

Boise Fire said no structures were threatened as of 4:45 p.m, after crews were able to protect a handful of structures that were threatened early on in Mountain Cove. Fire officials said those structures were no longer considered at risk.

Multiple fire engines, aircraft and heavy equipment were sent to the scene. Crews on scene included multiple fire engines, brush rigs from Boise and Eagle, a dozer, six single-engine air tankers and four Type 1 air tankers. Boise Fire said the large multi-unit response was on scene almost immediately.

“We’ve got multiple Boise Fire engines on scene, brush rigs from Boise and Eagle, a dozer, and aircraft from the wildland fire service,” Boise Fire Battalion Chief Roy Mitchell said.

Homes in the area and the Boise Foothills trail system in the Hulls Gulch area were evacuated as crews called for additional air resources. Boise Fire sent wireless emergency alerts and CodeRED notifications ordering people out of the Hulls Gulch trail system and the Military Reserve trail network. A text alert from the Boise Fire Department called for anyone in the immediate area of the Hulls Gulch trail system to leave immediately. Officials asked people to continue avoiding the area while crews keep working.

Boise Fire entered unified command with the Bureau of Land Management as the fire pushed onto BLM land. The BLM issued a temporary closure of BLM-managed public lands and trails within the Boise Foothills, approximately two miles northwest of Boise, due to the Claremont Fire.

The closure includes BLM-managed lands, roads and trails — except those maintained by Ada County — between Bogus Basin Road, Idaho State Highway 21, and Boise Ridge Road. The closure begins July 6, 2026, at 8 p.m. and is anticipated to be lifted July 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. The closure does not affect private land.

“This incident is another reminder of just how fast fire can move in the Boise Foothills. Our foothills are extremely dry, and we ask everyone to do their part to help prevent fires this summer,” Boise Fire Emergency Service Assistant Chief Brad Bolen said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and there is not an estimated time for containment. Boise Fire thanks Eagle Fire, the BLM, the U.S. Forest Service, Boise police and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office for their help, and crews urged people to use extreme caution while recreating outdoors as conditions remain elevated across the foothills.