What started as an afternoon of target practice in the Idaho backcountry has landed a 23-year-old Los Angeles man in court, after investigators say an “ammunition spark” from a hillside shooting session triggered the Ohio Fire, which burned roughly 2,035 acres northeast of Hailey.
The wildfire ripped through dry terrain, forced evacuations in nearby valley neighborhoods and drew in more than a hundred firefighters before crews were finally able to box it in. Authorities say the blaze, which started July 18, has since been mapped and held. The man now faces a single misdemeanor charge under state law for “firing timber or prairie lands.”
How investigators say the Ohio Fire started
According to Blaine County, the Ohio Fire ignited at about 1:58 p.m. on July 18 on Bureau of Land Management land across from the Hurtig Shooting Center on Ohio Gulch Road.
Investigators say six people were on the hillside firing weapons when an ammunition spark lit up the slope. The county has charged a 23-year-old Los Angeles man with the misdemeanor offense of “firing timber or prairie lands.” Officials say the group initially tried to stomp out or otherwise knock down the flames, then called 911 when it became clear the fire was getting away from them.
Size, containment and evacuations
Local outlets mapped the Ohio Fire at about 2,035 acres and reported that crews had it contained within days. KMVT reported that incident command listed more than a hundred personnel on the line, along with multiple engines and dozers working the perimeter.
Evacuation orders escalated quickly for people living nearby. Residents along Ohio Gulch Road, at the Valley Club and in Indian Creek at one point received “GO NOW” orders, then saw those downgraded to “SET” warnings as conditions improved and crews gained the upper hand, according to Boise State Public Radio.
What the charge carries
Idaho treats the offense of firing timber or prairie lands as a misdemeanor. According to the Idaho Legislature, Idaho Code §18-7004 allows for up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
County officials note that on top of any criminal penalties, courts could look at restitution for suppression costs, and there may be additional civil liability. Those decisions are still under review while the case moves forward.
County response and context
“All three fires were human-caused,” Sheriff Morgan Ballis said in the county statement, urging residents to stay cautious and prepared, according to Blaine County.
The county described a unified command that included eight agencies and roughly 114 personnel working the incident. Investigators have leaned on technology as well as eyewitness accounts, using tools such as FLOCK camera footage and homeowner video to help pinpoint the fire’s origin and cause.
What residents should know
Officials have closed Ohio Gulch and Indian Creek to public recreation while they finish mop-up and investigation work. They are also reminding the public to keep drones away from any active incident, warning that aircraft interference can delay or even ground suppression flights when every minute counts.
For more information or to report tips, contact the Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor's Office at 208-423-7500, and keep an eye on local alerts for any changes to evacuation statuses.
