Lightning sparks wildfire southwest of Boise. It quickly spreads to 6,000 acres

Sally Krutzig, The Idaho Statesman on Jul 31, 2025

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BOISE, Idaho — A wildfire south of Boise has grown to more than 6,000 acres in less than a day.

Fire crews responded at 1:48 a.m. Thursday to the Striker fire, located approximately 4 miles northeast of Murphy in Owyhee County, the Bureau of Land Management said in a social media post.

Between 6 a.m. and noon, the fire grew from 2,000 acres to 6,000 acres, according to wildfire alert nonprofit Watch Duty.

Chad Cline, Bureau of Land Management spokesperson, confirmed to the Idaho Statesman that the fire was sparked by lightning.

The bureau estimated that crews will have the Striker fire contained — meaning a line created around its perimeter to stop the spread — by about 8 p.m. Thursday. The bureau said it did not know when crews would be able to extinguish it.

“Crews are working to strengthen their containment lines,” Cline said by phone. “And they’re seeking opportunities to attack flare-ups when they happen. They’re trying to strengthen that stuff for when the winds and thunderstorms come in.”

The National Weather Service said Thursday that high winds and storms were possible for Southwest Idaho on Thursday night.

No evacuations had been ordered as of Thursday afternoon.

“There are some homes in the area, but no structures have been lost,” Cline said.

The response team included three overhead fighters, four engines and two dozers.

“Crews have been putting in solid work throughout the day on the Striker fire,” the bureau said in a 1:48 p.m. statement. “... Radio traffic from the line remains positive — tactics on the ground are proving effective in slowing the fire’s spread.”

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