Wildland fire on Wild Horse Island
<p><strong>Crews battle</strong> a wildland fire on Wild Horse Island late Wednesday afternoon. The fire had grown to 5 acres and was not yet fully contained. (Kylie Richter/Lake County Leader)</p>
A wildland fire on Wild Horse Island was caused by an unattended fire, according to a Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Fire Management official.
The blaze started late Wednesday afternoon. It was first reported at 2 acres but grew to 5 acres within hours.
C.T. Camel, a fire prevention specialist with CSKT Fire Management, said that a campfire near the water grew out of control.
Boats from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Fish, Wildlife, Recreation, and Conservation Department, Lake County Sheriff and Lake County Search and Rescue ferried crews over to the island on Wednesday. Two planes dropped retardant on the flames, and one helicopter responded to drop water.
Camel said that a 20-person fire crew has been dispatched to the scene.
No structures are currently threatened, Camel said. But the fire could grow, as crews hadn’t yet been able to contain it with the aerial attack as of press time.
"They have it knocked down, but they don't have a line on it," Camel said.