BY KAREN BOSSICK
A 23-year-old male from Los Angeles, Calif., has been charged with one count of misdemeanor in connection with the Ohio Fire.
The fire started before 2 p.m. Saturday, July 17, on Bureau of Land Management property across from the Hurtig Shooting Center in Ohio Gulch. The place the man was shooting is known as a place where people shoot their guns but is not the official shooting range, said Blaine County Sheriff Morgan Ballis.
The man has been charged with one count of misdemeanor Firing Timber or Prairie Lands, Section 18-7004-Idaho State Legislature. A conviction is punishable by imprisonment of up to six months in county jail, a fine up to $1,000 or both.
The Court may also consider additional factors, such as restitution for damages caused by the fire, civil liability for the fire suppression costs and/or probation.
The fire involved eight agencies, 114 law enforcement and fire personal, 13 fire engines, two ambulances, two dozers, one excavator, two hot shot crews from southern Idaho and northern Utah and numerous aerial support teams called in to suppress the fire that burned dangerously close to dozens of homes and the Valley Club golf course.
Ballis said that six individuals involved in the incident were on the south slope of Ohio Gulch firing weapons of varying caliber when the fire ignited from an ammunition spark. All six individuals initially tried to extinguish the fire before it grew too large. They called 911 and remained at the scene until law enforcement arrived.
In an unrelated case, a 62-year-old Hailey male who apparently had been evacuated from his home because of the fire was charged with misdemeanor Failing to Stop for a Roadblock, Section 19-623-Idaho State Legislature. If convicted, that is punishable by up to six months in the county jail, a fine up to $300, or both.
The individual was also cited for Resisting and Obstruction of Officers, Section 18-705-Idaho State Legislature. That is punishable by imprisonment up to one year in County jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
“Driving around or failing to stop for a roadblock endangers lives--yours, the first responders, and potentially innocent fire victims that need our help. Once you leave an evacuated area, you are legally not allowed back in until the evacuation order has been lifted,” Ballis said.
The Ohio Fire’s footprint has remained at 2,035 and is 100 percent contained.
Command of the fire transitioned to a Type 4 incident at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, as firefighters continued to make progress on extinguishing remaining hot spots. Unfortunately, it did not appear that the burned area received the meager amount of rain that fell on Ketchum just before 5 p.m.
Current evacuation status from the Blaine County Sheriff's Office remains in place (see the end of the story for specifics).
CABIN CREEK FIRE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
Meanwhile, police are still looking for the person who walked away from a campfire that resulted in the Cabin Creek Fire northeast of Alturas Lake on either July 10 or 11. The individual used the fire to cook a hot dog in foil and it’s believed the foil ignited, sparking a fire.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement at 208-423-7500.
MARTIN FIRE
An individual who started the 1,065-acre Martin Fire on July 9 in Martin Canyon in Bellevue’s Muldoon Canyon was apprehended with the help of witnesses in the area who identified the color, make and model of a white Dodge pickup truck rapidly existing the canyon shortly after the fire started.
Deputies utilized cameras connected to the FLOCK Safety Camera system and a homeowner’s private camera footage to identify the vehicle license plate, owner and registration.
The individual was setting off leftover Fourth of July fireworks with his children when sparks from a fountain-style firework cone ignited surrounding grasses. After he was unable to put out the fire, he drove to a point where he had cell service to report the fire to 911. He came forward to take responsibility for the fire two hours after the fire had started.
“All three fires were human-caused,” said Sheriff Ballis. “As a community, we have to do better. Everything is dry, and the fire danger in Blaine County is very great. As you go out into our beautiful county to recreate, please make smart choices. Think ahead and be prepared. Many fires are started unintentionally. It is what happens next that makes the greatest impact.
“Take a shovel, water and, if possible, a fire extinguisher in your vehicle. Our greatest priority is to protect the lives of our community.”
EVACUATION STATUS FOR THE OHIO FIRE:
● Ohio Gulch Road, the Valley Club, and Indian Creek Road remain in SET status. Residents may remain in their homes but should remain prepared to evacuate again if conditions change.
● Indian Creek Road and the Heatherlands remain under a soft closure and are open to residents only.
● Ohio Gulch Road, the Blaine County Transfer Station, and the Valley Club are open to the public.
● Ohio Gulch and Indian Creek remain closed to public recreation, including off-road vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrian traffic, while fire crews continue monitoring and rehabilitation operations.
● The Hiawatha Zone, including the Hiawatha neighborhood and Red Devil Lane, remains in SET status.
● The East Fork–Triumph Zone, from the Triumph Mine east, also remains in SET status.