MOSCOW, Idaho — A small wildfire that burned grassland South of Moscow has fire officials issuing a reminder that the Inland Northwest’s fire season hasn’t ended just yet.
The fire, which started Tuesday afternoon, burned 12 acres East of Zeitler Road in a mostly hilly and grassy area. As of Wednesday, the cause of the fire was still under investigation. Lightning strikes weren’t reported in the area near the fire start. No structures were burned, but flames did come within 100 feet of a home.
"The fire was leaping down there below in the grassland,” said Dave Port, a landowner in the area. “And I was afraid of Paradise Ridge, because of all the timber up here."
Fire officials said that the blaze was certainly uncommon for the time of year. "A little bit of a surprise,” said Mike McManus, a regional Idaho Department of Lands assistant fire warden. "It's not typical for us by any means."
McManus remarked, however, that fires this late in the season are still very possible. In the case of the Moscow fire, the Palouse’s lack of moisture and precipitation so far this year has left fuels dry. In addition, high winds helped drive the fire on Tuesday afternoon. "We've got a little bit of rain. But there areas that are still very dry. And this is a good indicator of the potential that could happen,” McManus said.
While temperatures can affect fire behavior, McManus said they didn’t play much of a role this week. In one section of the fire, flames moved over frost and snow that had been covering some grass. McManus urged people conducting outdoor burns to continue using caution.
"It was amazing that it was even started,” said Port, also surprised by the late-season fire. "[IDL] had their hotshot guys, and they came over there immediately and saved the day,” he said.