Fire prevention efforts between the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continue to reduce the number of large human-caused fires along the Interstate 84 corridor from Boise to Mountain Home.
The ITD Mountain Home maintenance crew is actively mowing the I-84 shoulders, median, and gores along the popular route. Once completed, they’ll have mowed more than 400 miles of vegetation, covering 64 miles of roadway. Typically, the crew stops south of Boise; however, the BLM Boise District provided a third tractor to cover more ground, so this year ITD will reduce fire fuels up to Gowen Road. The four-person team, which includes three on mowers and one in a water truck, expects to have the corridor mowed this week.
“I have been mowing this corridor for five years, and I enjoy doing it because we’re making the area safer for both the community and travelers. The additional equipment has helped us mow more ground efficiently and effectively,” Mowing Team Lead Jake Kuecker said.
Historical data highlights the significance of these efforts. During the late 1900s and early 2000s, there was a steady increase in wildfires along the I-84 corridor. These fires were often large and difficult to suppress, making the area one of the largest wildfire hotspots in the country.
By 2013, the BLM Boise District, in partnership with ITD, fully implemented a fuel break strategy along the I-84 corridor. This included mowing, constructing fuel breaks, and improving roadway aprons. Those efforts, along with ongoing fuel reduction measures like mowing, have reduced the average fire size by 95% over the past seven years, despite a 30% increase in traffic flow.
