Fire season is underway near Salmon
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management says a fire near Salmon was started by fireworks. The Hot Springs fire started Sunday afternoon about 4 miles south of Salmon, east of the airport on BLM land. The BLM and U.S. Forest Service dispatched 4 engines, a federal helicopter, and the Lemhi Fire Protection District. The fire was fully contained at 25 acres at 9 a.m. Monday. The Buffalo Jump Fire started June 25. It was controlled at 6 acres. The cause of that fire is under investigation. The Salmon-Challis National Forest controlled two lightning-caused fires. The “K Fire” was located near K Mountain southeast of Salmon and was held to one-tenth of an acre. The “Deadwater” fire, near Deadwater on the North Fork Ranger District, was out at .20 of an acre. Fireworks are prohibited on all public land year-round. No fireworks of any kind may be possessed or discharged anywhere within the Salmon-Challis National Forest or the Salmon and Challis Field Office of the BLM, regardless of weather conditions or holidays. Violators can be subject to a citation and fine with a maximum penalty of $5,000 or up to six months in jail. Anyone who starts a wildfire can be held liable for suppression costs and those costs can be substantial.
