U.S. Army soldiers with the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion walk a grid pattern fighting the Boulder Fire in Idaho’s Boise National Forest on Aug. 22, 2024. (Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun)
BOULDER FIRE, BOISE NATIONAL FOREST – Up since 5 a.m., U.S. Army First Lt. Andrew Harvey’s cheeks and yellow fire-resistant shirt are streaked with ash as he walks a grid pattern along the fire line, searching for any signs of heat.
It’s Harvey’s first time fighting a real wildfire, and he wouldn’t rather be anywhere else.
Harvey is one of 250 active duty U.S. Army soldiers who arrived in Idaho last week to help fight five wildfires that are burning in and around the Boise National Forest.
Collectively, the West Mountain Complex fires have burned more than 30,000 acres, threatened structures and mandated the closures of highways, forest service roads, trails and popular recreation areas such as Warm Lake.
“This is a mission set that actually helps us save American people, help American people reduce property loss and save some lives,” Harvey said in an interview with the Idaho Capital Sun at the Boulder Fire line on Thursday. “So all my guys are super excited, pumped up to be here. And honestly, it’s a privilege to be out here with you guys.”