Officials reflect on area's worst range fire in years

Traffic on Old Highway 30 was snarled for hours as law enforcement officers rerouted traffic through Mountain Home as the Benwalk Fire sped toward the city.

For some people in the Mountain Home community, last week's range fire was a little too close for comfort. A few deemed it the worst blaze they've seen in decades. Many more considered it a chance of a lifetime as they sought front-row seats to watched it unleash its full fury on the city.

In the end, the Benwalk Fire left behind a path of scorched earth that scared more than 29,000 acres of land clearly visible from many parts of town.

Looking back, city officials highlighted the efforts involving a myriad of fire prevention and law enforcement agencies while at the same time expressing concerns regarding the public's response to the fast-moving blaze.

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