A fast-moving wildfire south of Interstate 90 near Kellogg prompted immediate evacuation orders Tuesday afternoon, displacing residents from the Big Creek and Elizabeth Park areas while authorities issued a separate evacuation warning for the community of Osburn.
The fire broke out at approximately 3 p.m. and spread rapidly, growing from an estimated 50 acres at initial report to roughly 100 acres by 7:20 p.m. — doubling in size in less than four hours with no containment reported. Hundreds of Kellogg residents were also without power Tuesday evening as firefighting efforts intensified.
Responding Agencies and Evacuation Zones
Selkirk Fire and Rescue and the Northside Fire District were among the agencies responding to the blaze. An active evacuation order was in effect for the Big Creek and Elizabeth Park area, while the 6:28 p.m. update expanded concern to include an evacuation warning for Osburn.
Residents under evacuation orders were directed to the shelter established at Real Life Church in Pinehurst. The church’s facility includes a field behind the building capable of sheltering horses and other large animals, providing critical relief for rural families with livestock who often face limited options during emergency evacuations.
For residents needing assistance with trailers, RVs, or oversized vehicles, Meto Towing in Smelterville was made available as a storage resource during the emergency.
What Comes Next
Residents in and around Kellogg, Osburn, and the surrounding Silver Valley communities should monitor official channels from Shoshone County Emergency Management for updated evacuation orders, containment progress, and power restoration timelines. Conditions can change rapidly with summer wildfires, and those under evacuation warnings should be prepared to leave immediately if orders are upgraded.
Anyone with large animals in the affected area should contact local emergency management or proceed to Real Life Church in Pinehurst for livestock assistance. Those requiring vehicle or trailer storage should reach out to Meto Towing in Smelterville directly.
Additional coverage of this developing story will be provided as firefighting agencies release updated containment figures and evacuation status. For statewide fire and emergency news, visit Idaho News. North Idaho wildfire context and regional updates can be found at Kootenai County News.