By John Markon
The Idaho Falls Post Register
TAYLOR MOUNTAIN ROAD, Idaho — Residents and visitors in the Taylor Mountain Road area are being advised that, at least on Saturday, where there’s smoke there probably isn’t fire.
Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the Blackrock Estates and Comora Loma subdivisions will be included in a large-scale wildfire simulation, an exercise involving six regional fire departments, nine other government agencies and as many as 100 firefighters, law enforcement officials and communications specialists.
“There won’t be any actual fires set,” said Joanna Wilson, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Land Management’s Idaho Falls District. “There may be a few smoke bombs set off for signaling, but the smoke should be very minimal and won’t be the result of anything burning.”
Fire crews with trucks and other equipment will be active and evident in both subdivisions. The BLM has been alerting residents for weeks and has gone door-to-door contacting individual homeowners for permission to have crews on their property.
“We sent out one reverse 911 call to every phone number in the area earlier this week telling people about the drill,” said Wilson, “and we’ll do another on Saturday morning.
“People who live in the area shouldn’t be surprised. We’ll put signs up on the roads telling people driving through the area what’s happening.”
Saturday’s simulation is being conducted by the recently formed Upper Snake River Interagency Wildfire Group and will be the first of its kind organized in Bonneville County.
Fire officials are encouraging public involvement. During the exercise, residents may be approached by a firefighter offering to perform a quick safety inspection of their home.
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