Unattended campfire started Moose Fire, Idaho's largest wildfire of 2022

An unextinguished and unattended campfire spread on the afternoon of July 17th and turned into the Moose Fire, according to U.S. Forest Service investigators.

The campfire, which investigators believe was left smoldering in a rock ring from the night of July 16th, was in a popular undesignated camping area across from the Moose Creek drainage, between Salmon River Road and the Main Salmon River, about 5.6 miles west of North Fork.

Investigators said, during that busy weekend on the river corridor, the weather was hot with low humidity and about 30 mile per hour winds.

Investigators ask anyone can identify anyone who was in the camping area from the afternoon of Saturday, July 16th, to the morning of Sunday, July 17th, or thinks they know something about the start of the fire, to email SM.FS.2022MooseTip@usda.gov.

The Salmon-Challis National Forest ask that visitors continue to be careful to not spark a wildfire on accident and follow these three things:

• Be mindful of parking vehicles in flammable vegetation and use and disposal of cigarettes.
• Take care to secure items on trailers and truck beds, including chains and other metal objects.
• Always ensure to drown and thoroughly stir campfires prior to departure.

The Moose Fire is more than 130,000 acres and 51% contained.

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