SHOSHONE COUNTY, Idaho — After Tuesday night's thunder and lightning storms across the Inland Northwest and parts of Idaho, a fire was reported near the Cataldo Mission, on the eastern side of Idaho's northern panhandle, overnight.
Homeowner Brett Ferro walked out of his house after thunder and lightning woke him up around 4 a.m. and came face to face with the growing wildfire.
Ferro said he panicked, ran back inside and called 911.
Shoshone County fire and the Idaho Department of Land crews responded to the fire growing off of I-90.
Ferro said he believes lightning started the fire. He described the moment he thought he heard lightning strike a tree.
"It was really loud," Ferro said. "It was extremely close. We thought that had to have hit something really close to us so let’s go look.”
His theory led him to the area above his home that was logged. He said he thinks after lightning hit a dead tree, flames took off.
According to the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), the fire on Latour Creek Rd. in Cataldo was most likely sparked by lightning.
Despite his initial panic, he said after considering the fire season so far and active responders on scene, he calmed down.
“Luckily we’re in a moderate fire season this year," Ferro said. "I also didn't think there was enough fuel to get the fire from there to here, the logging area to my house.”
Ferro said he stayed to watch crews battle the flames for two hours following his initial call to make sure the scene was secured and fire didn't spread.
According to the Idaho Department of Land officials, the cause of the fire is still unknown.
Officials said the fire burned 2-3 acres of land and closed off Buckner Road, which is used as a logging road.
As late as 2 p.m., flames could still be seen within the white smoke.
Idaho Department of Land said they expect crews to have the fire completely contained by end of day Wednesday.
SCSO will be sharing more information as they continue to investigate the cause of the fire.
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information become available.
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