Stray bullets blamed for wildfire in west-central Idaho

RIGGINS, Idaho – Investigators say bullets from a gun club may have started a large wildfire in west-central Idaho.

The Lewiston Tribune reported that Idaho County Sheriff Doug Giddings said tracer rounds being shot at a public range near Riggins may have ricocheted into the brush and grass and started the fire. Tracer rounds are bullets that have a small charge at their base that ignites when fired.

The blaze has burned more than 3 square miles and U.S. Forest Service officials say it is 85 percent contained.

Giddings said two young men were shooting tracer rounds at the Salmon River Gun Club when the blaze ignited. He did not name the men but said they are members of the club who had permission to be shooting. They are not likely to face criminal prosecution.