UPDATE: Idaho National Laboratory firefighters continue to battle a blaze that grew to 120 acres on the northwest side of the INL desert site Monday afternoon.

The fire is burning on both sides of highway 30 on Bureau of Land Management and INL property.

New information: BLM air tankers have dropped retardant onto the west and north sides, which are primarily BLM land.

The fire is not near any INL facilities at this time.

Of the estimated 120 acres burned, about 35 acres are on the INL land and the remainder is on BLM land.

A unified fire command has been established with BLM.

Idaho State Police have re-opened highway 30 to traffic.

Rocky Mountain Power is working on two poles that were damaged by fire.

At least two dozers are building fire lines to contain hot spots.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is under invesitgation.

    The U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory Emergency Operations Center has been activated and is gathering information about a wildland fire on the northwest side of the INL desert site.

    The blaze began this afternoon near U.S. Highway 33 between Arco and Howe near the Howe Peak area. It is burning several acres of grasses and sagebrush on both sides of highway 33 near mile marker nine.

    The INL Fire Department has acitivated and INL firefighters are teaming up with others from Butte County and the Bureau of Land Management. INL heavy equipment units have arrived at the scene.