A fast-moving wildfire burning south of Interstate 90 in Shoshone County has grown to 235 acres with containment holding at just 10 percent, as firefighters and multiple local agencies work to protect more than 120 structures threatened by the blaze.
The Gold Run Fire ignited Tuesday, June 16, around 3 p.m., in the area between Elizabeth Park and Big Creek, south of I-90 near Kellogg and Pinehurst. The cause remains under investigation.
Structures Threatened, Evacuation Notices Active
Three non-residential outbuildings have already been destroyed by the fire, and officials confirm more than 120 structures — including homes — remain under threat. Evacuation notices are active for the Big Creek and Elizabeth Park area, while residents stretching from Big Creek east to Johnson Street on both sides of I-90 are in “Ready” status, meaning they should be prepared to leave on short notice.
The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office is serving as the lead agency for evacuation information and coordination. Residents in affected areas are encouraged to monitor official channels for the latest updates.
Significant Resources Deployed to the Fire
Roughly 90 firefighting personnel have been assigned to the Gold Run Fire. Among the resources deployed are two Type 1 hotshot crews — the highest-tier wildland firefighting teams in the country — along with four Type 2 initial attack crews. The incident is transitioning to a Type 3 incident management organization, a structure used to manage multi-operational wildfires that require expanded coordination.
The Idaho Department of Lands holds fire protection authority for the affected area. Multiple agencies are cooperating on the response, including the U.S. Forest Service, Silver Valley Fire Rescue, the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, Kellogg Police Department, and Osburn Police Department.
What Comes Next
With containment at just 10 percent, fire managers will be focused on protecting threatened structures while crews work to establish containment lines around the fire’s perimeter. The transition to a Type 3 incident management team signals the fire is expected to require sustained operations over multiple days.
Residents under evacuation or “Ready” status should have go-bags prepared, keep vehicles fueled, and follow directions from the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office. Weather conditions — including wind shifts and low humidity typical of Idaho summers — will play a critical role in how quickly crews can improve containment.
No injuries have been reported as of the latest available information. Updates on evacuation status and fire progression are expected to continue through the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office as the incident management team assumes command.