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.

NAMPA (Idaho Statesman) — A Nampa teen died in a single-vehicle accident west of Boise after hitting a power pole Sunday afternoon, according to police.

The 17-year-old boy was driving near Ustick Road and North Treeline Avenue north of Nampa when he hit a power pole, causing his vehicle to overturn, the Nampa Police Department said in a news release. Nampa Dispatch was notified of the incident shortly after 3 p.m.

Police said power lines fell down, creating a brush fire. The Nampa Fire Department extinguished the fire but found that the teen had died, according to police.

The department said it was investigating the incident.

POCATELLO — Authories in Idaho say the body of a 49-year-old man was found Monday in the Blackrock Canyon, south of Pocatello.

According to a news release from the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, the man has been identified as Steven Smith, of Pocatello. The release further stated the death is suspected to be medically-related. However, it will be determined following an investigation. Police said no foul play is suspected.

Authorities believe Smith went into the canyon on Saturday morning to inspect a wrecked ATV from a week earlier. Several hours later, his friends went into the canyon to check on him and found him dead, according to the release.

The incident was first reported to emergency personnel Sunday around 7:30 p.m.

Search and rescue crews found Smith about a mile from Blackrock Canyon Trailhead. Due to the step terrain and low visibility, crews waited until Monday morning to recover the body.

Crews safely recovered the body by noon.

“I want to thank our dedicated volunteers with the Search and Rescue and Backcountry Rescue teams for their willingness to drop everything to help when one of our neighbors is in need. Their efforts are truly appreciated,” said Bannock County Sheriff Tony Manu.