Idaho

Hot, dry weather prompts fire restrictions in parts of Idaho

Published

1 year ago

June 25, 2024

Hot, dry weather prompts fire restrictions in parts of Idaho

SOUTH BOISE, Idaho — 90 degree weather paired with dry brush and grass has led to an increase in vegetation fires across Idaho. Some areas of the state are seeing increased fire restrictions and burn bans in an effort to prevent wildfires this summer.

(Below is the transcript from the broadcast story)

“I would see fire restrictions as a serious consideration this year,” says Robbie Johnson, with the Idaho Department of Lands.

She says fire restrictions and burn bans are put into place when fire danger is considered extreme.

“We had a wet spring so that allowed these grasses and fine fuels, as we called them in wildfire, to really grow big and strong and in large amounts,” says Johnson.

That build-up of fine fuels prompted portions of Idaho to put restrictions in place.

“And so when you see a fire restriction, you won’t see that in the whole state they’ll just be zones of sorts and portions,” added Johnson.

Those zones can either be stage one or stage two of fire restrictions, though local agencies can issue other requirements.

“Stage one fire restrictions are the lower level and that mostly has to be with smoking outside…and also campfires, so there’s different ways you can have campfires still but not in all ways,” says Johnson.

Stage two comes with elevated concerns, increasing restrictions to include where you can use motorized vehicles while recreating.

Burn permits offer another way to check if it is safe to burn at your location.

“In May through October, we call that closed fire season, and basically if you just want to go out and burn some stuff, like out here you have to have a permit first,” says Johnson.

Johnson tells me issuing formal fire restrictions is not something they take lightly.

“Fire restrictions are really something that we don’t wanna have to do, but if we’re seeing those human-caused fires, it’s so dry, it’s windy, it’s extreme conditions. We have a lot of fires out there that are tasking our resources, that’s where it’s time to deeply consider them, and they are very much thoughtfully considered,” added Johnson.

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Idaho

1 dead in U-Haul truck explosion in Idaho parking lot: Officials

Published

2 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

1 dead in U-Haul truck explosion in Idaho parking lot: Officials

ByMatthew Fuhrman and Nadine El-Bawab

Sunday, December 14, 2025 4:44PM

One person is dead after a U-Haul truck appears to have accidentally exploded in a parking lot in Idaho early Saturday, according to officials.

The explosion caused damage within the blast radius including to a Courtyard Marriott and Old Navy, according to the Lewiston Fire Department and City of Lewiston Police Department.

Initial findings indicate the vehicle was transporting stored materials, including flammable items such as gasoline and propane tanks, according to officials.

“At this time, there is no indication the incident is criminal in nature,” Lewiston Fire Marshal Julian Sorrell said in a statement.

There was no fire after the explosion, officials said.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

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Idaho

Meridian man killed in U-Haul explosion in Lewiston

Published

14 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Meridian man killed in U-Haul explosion in Lewiston

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The identity of the man killed in an explosion in Lewiston on Saturday morning has been released.

61-year-old Douglas R. Petersen from Meridian, Idaho, was identified by the Nez Perce County Coroner’s office as the victim of an explosion involving propane that was in the cargo box of a U-Haul truck

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Idaho

2 Idaho Lottery players will be millionaires in the new year – East Idaho News

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

2 Idaho Lottery players will be millionaires in the new year – East Idaho News

BOISE – Two lucky Idaho Lottery players who participated in the 2025 Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle will begin the New Year as Idaho’s newest millionaires!

All 500,000 tickets in the Idaho Lottery’s traditional holiday game, the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle, have been sold and the game has officially ended. The last ticket was sold Thursday, December 11.

This year’s game was one of the fastest-selling in the 19-year history of the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle. After last year’s very successful game, the Idaho Lottery continued the game with two top prizes of $1,000,000. They also added a $100,000 prize and a $50,000 prize.

It is the 18th sellout and the 11th time the game has sold out before Christmas.

“We want to remind everyone this game features two, one-million-dollar top prizes. Last year, unfortunately, one of those $1,000,000 prizes was never claimed,” said Andrew Arulanandam, Idaho Lottery Director. “Keep your tickets in a safe place and remember to go online and check them after the drawing.”

The winning numbers will be announced at 5:59 p.m. Mountain Time on Monday, December 29.

“Idaho Raffle tickets are popular holiday gifts. So, this year, two lucky Idahoans could be instant millionaires because of their stocking stuffers!” added Arulanandam.

Players can check their tickets for winning numbers online, at all Idaho Lottery retail locations, on the Idaho Lottery winning numbers hotline at (208) 334-4656, or by using the Idaho Lottery Check-a-Ticket app for their iPhone or Android phone.

Besides the guaranteed top prizes of $1,000,000, there are over 21,500 additional prizes ranging from $15 up to $100,000. This year’s game also featured twenty, $1,000 prizes mid-game for players who purchased one of the 25,000th tickets. There were 15 daily, $1,000 winners during the first 15 days of sales. All players are encouraged to check their tickets for these promotion winners manually by visiting idaholottery.com.

All winning tickets of $1,000 and higher in this game must be claimed at Lottery offices in Boise. Players will have 180 days after the draw announcement on December 29, to claim their prizes.

This year’s Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle generated over $1.7 million for the Idaho Lottery’s beneficiaries, Idaho public schools and buildings.

During this gift giving season, the Idaho Lottery would like to remind everyone to gift Lottery tickets responsibly. You must be 18 years old to buy, sell, or redeem Lottery products in Idaho.

The following is a current list of $1,000 promotional winning tickets that remain unclaimed from this year’s Raffle: