KELLOGG, Id. — Investigators say an arsonist is to blame for 13 small brush fires that started in North Idaho on Monday night.
Officials said nobody was hurt and no buildings were destroyed.
The first fire was reported on the east side of Kellogg. By the time authorities reported the scene, they were getting more reports of fires already.
The damage was small, but the threat was huge.
"With all the forest fires we've got going on now, I thought 'Oh my gosh, it's close to home for me,’ ” said Mark Noble a resident of a subdivision east of Kellogg.
At one point Monday night, one of the largest and final fires in the arsonist's spree was burning on a hill above Noble’s home.
"I stretched all the hoses out and got the water going, and then went up and down the road and wet my house down,” Noble said.
Crews were able to control the flames Monday night. On Tuesday, Department of Lands investigators were on scene piecing together what happened.
The first brush fire started near the Division street bridge. It appears the suspect then started to head down the trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and started a few more fires.
The suspect then started to cut southeast and up a steep path and into the hills. It was reported that a couple of fires started in the area where the hills merged into one.
"After there's three, four, five in a row ... to me it seems like somebody that's got a problem with fire," Noble said.
On Tuesday, investigators were trying to track down the arsonist. Noble said he is grateful for the crews on these fires last night.
"(The suspect is) somebody that could definitely cause us all a lot of problems,” Noble said. “And I hope that they get a hold of him and get him some help, or whatever it takes."
If you have any information, you're urged to call the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office at (208) 556-1114.