KTRV Fox 12 Highway 16 Fire Aftermath

Highway 16 Fire Aftermath

Eagle, Idaho -- Nearly 5,000 acres have been reduced to ashes after the Highway 16 fire on Wednesday. Most of the fire was out on Thursday, but four families were left without homes.

More than half of the firefighters on scene finally got to go home and get some rest, but the aftermath was obvious today, as one family said goodbye to their home.

"She said the houses were starting to catch on fire, and I was like 'holy cow, it could be my house,'" said Makenzi Baker, who lost her home on Wednesday.

Makenzi Baker and Jennifer Kitzberger say they will miss their home on Homer Road. The structure that once housed five people is now nothing but ashes.

"Having a bedroom. Honestly, I mean, we've struggled with that for a while 'cause moving and money, but we finally got it and now it's gone. Yeah, we lost it," said Baker.

The Highway 16 fire in North Eagle yesterday claimed four homes in total, and nearly 5,000 acres. So many homes in the area were just inches from disaster.

"We were very blessed, we came home and our house was still standing, and many people aren't in that position, so we just have to pray for them," said Charles Roberts, who has lived in the area for 17 years.

Boise Land Management had crews monitoring the fire through the night, and most of Thursday.

"Mopping up the fire line, making sure there aren't any hot spots. We have a structure protection group that still working in and around the homes making sure that there's no heat there and no possibility of it re-igniting today," said Mallory Eils of the Boise District Bureau of Land Management.

"That's why we do have so many people still out here, probably a hundred, hundred and fifty people still out here working on the fire, patrolling, keeping an eye on it just to make sure," Eils said.

Strong winds made the situation worse Wednesday, switching direction without warning.

"Very intense fire behavior, and there's a lot of homes in that area and our firefighters were able to protect quite a few of them," said Eils.

For some, friends were willing to lend a hand. 

"He was turning on water, and he was giving me a blow by blow. I could hear the helicopters flying over his head, but once he got here, he was able to tell us the house was standing and it looks like it will be okay," Roberts said, remembering the day of the fire.

However, Baker and Kitzberger and their family are left with rubble. They say their family will come together and rebuild.

"We'll definitely live here, no doubt. No looking back at it. It's something that happened. Yeah, it was a disaster but, something to learn from not something to dwell," Baker said.

The Eagle fire has a burn out fund for the families who lost their homes Wednesday night. If you would like to donate to that cause, please make checks payable to the Eagle Fire Burnout Fund and mail or drop checks off at Eagle Fire Station 1 966 E. Iron Eagle Dr., Eagle ID 83616.

Also, if you have any home goods, blankets, clothing; day to day things these families will be needing as they rebuild, you can drop items off at Velvet Touch Cosmetology School, located at 5820 East Franklin Road in Nampa.