UPDATE: Crews contain range fire

Fire crews from Mountain Home and the Bureau of Land Management battled the blaze that began between mileposts 98 and 99 on the interstate around 12:10 p.m. Friday. Crews expect to have the range fire under control by 4 p.m. that afternoon.

Firefighters from Mountain Home and the Bureau of Land Management contained a range fire east of Mountain Home around 2 p.m. Friday.

The fire was first reported around 12:10 p.m. and scorched approximately 10 acres of land along the eastbound side of the interstate between mileposts 98 and 99.

Originally, the fire was reported at approximately 30 acres, but more accurate mapping of the blaze showed it was significantly smaller, according to BLM spokesman Kevin Moriarty.

The fire likely started on the south side of the interstate and jumped over the highway into the median at one point, Moriarty said. High winds pushed smoke and flames along the eastern side of the interstate, prompting authorities to shut down both sides of the interstate for more than an hour.

Approximately 30 people from both agencies fought the blaze with the BLM calling up six engines, one dozer and a water tender with the Mountain Home fire department adding four additional engines and a water tender. The BLM also had an helicopter on standby.

Moriarty estimated that crews would have the fire under control by 4 p.m. According to an initial investigation, the fire was likely human caused and possibly connected to a vehicle.