Idaho Officials Seek Help Identifying Person Seen Near Wildfire

Wildfire season here in Idaho and in the greater Pacific Northwest is in full swing. Judging by the air that we have been breathing for the last several weeks, that should not come as a surprise.

As with any fire that breaks out, aside from containing these large outdoor blazes, there are folks that work to identify what exactly started them. Sometimes, it's something natural like a lightening strike but other times, there are humans involved: irresponsible firework usage or worse: arson.

Fire officials in North Idaho hope that you can help them identify a person that they hope, has some information.

In a statement to the public, the Idaho Department of Lands shared why they're in need:

...Fire investigators would like to talk to this person who was photographed walking by the Saw Mill Fire shortly after it started on July 30. The hope is that she may have seen something that would assist investigators in determining how the fire started.
The Saw Mill Fire started in Coeur d’Alene on July 30. It was located west of Highway 90 between S Backlog Lane and E. Mullin Trail Road.  If you recognize the person in the photo, or if you were in the area on July 30 between 4:40 – 5:30 p.m. and noticed anything unusual or out of place, we want to hear from you. This includes vehicles, people or activities that seemed uncommon or out of place. We are also looking for photos, videos or security footage from the surrounding area.

To be abundantly clear, authorities have not suggested that the person photographed is a 'suspect' of any kind.

We, like the folks commenting online, can't help but wonder how this photo was taken...it seems that the person behind the camera might know something too?

Take a closer look at the person that Idaho authorities hope to identify near the wildfire

Credit: Idaho Department of Lands, Facebook

Know anything about the person in the photo or the Saw Mill Fire as a whole? Contact the Idaho Department of Lands at 208-666-8697 or email Investigation@idl.idaho.gov