Boise Police and Fire investigators are looking into what they call an "unusual" grass fire at Camel's Back Reserve—where firefighters found four separate "starts" all on a trail that leads from Eighth Street in Boise' North End to Camel's Back.

Because the trail is so steep and narrow, firefighters needed to walk up the trail to access the blaze. Two engines and four brush rigs were used to douse the flames, which were declared under control by 11:20 a.m. today.

Three Idaho men were named today to receive the Carnegie Medal, honoring civilians who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree when attempting to save the lives of others.

Kevin Barbee of Lewiston, Donald Galloway of Genesee, and Matthew Logan of Moscow saved Kerry Wagner from a burning truck on June 27, 2010. Wagner was involved in a two-truck wreck that killed the driver of the other vehicle. Barbee, Galloway and Logan were able to pull the unconscious Wagner from his truck as the vehicles burst into flames. Within minutes of the rescue, fire engulfed both pickups.

Wagner suffered multiple injuries in the collision, requiring hospitalization and surgery, but he recovered. Galloway sustained a minor burn to his face.

Barbee, Galloway and Logan joined 22 other Americans being honored by the Carnegie Medal. Each will receive an undisclosed financial grant. In the 107 years of the Carnegie Hero Fund, $33.7 million has been given in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits and continuing assistance.

In a letter obtained by the Associated Press, a group called the North American Liberation Press has claimed responsibility for an arson that torched the Rocky Mountain Fireworks and Fur Co., north of Caldwell.

A blaze broke out around 5 a.m. today at the facility on Highway 20-26, damaging the store that sells fireworks and fur. Crews from Caldwell, Eagle, Middleton, Parma and Star battled the fire, while morning rush-hour traffic was diverted away from Exit 26 of Interstate 84.

"By oppressing innocent life, you've lost your rights," read the letter from the group's so-called "arson unit." "We've come to take you down a notch. Stay in business, and we'll be back."

The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco and Canyon County Sheriff's Office are investigating the blaze.

On Sept. 3, the North American Liberation Press claimed responsibility for destroying fencing at an Oregon elk farm. In June, the group targeted a Vancouver, B.C. fur shop, soaking racks of clothing with chemicals.

Lightning on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 sparked 26 new fires in the Boise National Forest. Helicopters quickly air-lifted firefighters to the Silver Creek and Deadwood Reservoir areas, where a majority of the blazes originated.

• David Olson

"We did get some rain, which helps out immensely in these issues," said David Olson, BNF's public affairs officer. "Bottom line is, none of the fires are causing any containment difficulties," he said.

An additional four fires started on Sept. 13. When Citydesk spoke to Olson, there was only one fire that was still uncontained.

UPDATE: 4:30 p.m.
An evacuation order was lifted Friday afternoon for hundreds of workers at the INL as firefighters gained group against a wildfire that had scorched more than 36,000 acres in Eastern Idaho. The fire presented "no known radiological hazard to the public at this time," lab officials said in a statement.

ORIGINAL POST
As of late Thursday, more than 28,000 acres had burned around the Idaho National Lab, 28 miles west of Idaho Falls. All non-essential employees at the INL's Materials and Fuels Complex were evacuated Thursday night as the wildfire continued to burn north of the facility. The blaze started Thursday afternoon.

A spokesman for the INL said there was no known radiological hazard to the public.

The so-called T-17 fire was whipped by winds Thursday night as flames burned south of state Highway 33. Crews from the Bureau of Land Management, including air support and several bulldozers are on the scene.

UPDATE 12:30 P.M.

BLM fire officials are blaming this morning's Dry Creek fire, which burned 7 acres of the Boise Foothills off of Bogus Basin Road, on an abandoned campfire. 200-300 abandoned campfires are reported annually on the Boise National Forest.

UPDATE 10;50 A.M.

BLM officials sent out a message on Twitter that fire crews had reportedly stopped the Dry Creek Fire from growing beyond 7 acres, but firefighters, including air support, continue to work the fireline.

ORIGINAL POST

Firefighters are battling a fire off of Bogus Basin Road. The blaze was spotted around 6:30 a.m. near mile marker 12 on Bogus Basin Road. Heavy timber and brush are adding significant fuels to the fire. So far the blaze is burning in the southeast slopes.

Meanwhile, nearly 137,000 acres have burned since Sunday following a series of lightning-caused fires throughout the region. The Boise District of the Bureau of Land Management has responded to 14 wildfires this week. The biggest fire, named Big Hill, has burned 67,000 acres south of Bruneau. The Blair fire, north of Glenn's Ferry, burned 38,000 acres. Last evening, two fires broke out in Weiser and Horseshoe Bend. The Sabegrush Fire, East of Weiser scorched 600 acres and the Highway 55 fire burned 60 acres.

Boise firefighters have had a particularly busy summer but one early morning blaze is receiving particular attention: one that destroyed a neighborhood playground.

Boise Police and Fire are investigating what they say was the work of an arsonist at the Nottingham Neighborhood Park on N. Decatur Dr. in West Boise.

"The neighbors I talked to are devastated," said Det. Mike Hill, arson investigator for Boise Police. "They say the neighborhood itself put a lot of effort into getting the park and the playground renovated and now it's a total loss."

Neighbors spotted flames coming from playground equipment just before 4 a.m. Firefighters said an entire jungle gym was destroyed. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 208-343-COPS.

A federal investigation has determined that an arsonist is responsible for a fire at the Lucky Friday Mine on July 26 in Idaho's panhandle.

About 170 miners were evacuated when the fire was detected. No one was injured. A second smaller fire at the silver mine on July 5 is still under investigation.

The Mulan mine was the scene of a collapse in April, which claimed the life of a Hecla Mining employee. Hecla is the largest silver producer in the United States.

Local firefighters braved the heat and exhaust at two major intersections today to collect money from motorists that will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Alliance.

Lightning has been wreaking havoc across Southwest Idaho today, causing a series of fires. One firefighter has been injured while battling a blaze off of Seamans Gulch Road in Northwest Boise.

Four engines and two brush rigs from Boise and two more brush rigs from Eagle are on the scene of the Foothills fire. At least one home has been threatened by the grass fire which scorched two acres. Lightning is the probable cause.

Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management is reporting no less than 10 fires across the region, including fires in the Emmet, Mountain Home, Marsing and Bruneau areas. The largest, the Alky Fire nine miles north of Glenn's Ferry, has burned more than 1,300 acres.