Barn fire displaces several families
Blaze started in one structure, spread to surround wildlands
An aerial firefighting crew pours water over the Idler fire. Firefighters continue to fight the flames reporting less than 50 percent containment.
August 31, 2021
*Editor’s note: This article has been corrected to show a discarded cigarette did not start the Idler Fire.
On Monday afternoon, a wildfire ignited 5 miles northeast of Moscow, Idaho. The fire started in a barn and quickly spread to nearby trees and grass.
The City of Moscow issued Level 3 evacuation orders around 4 p.m. Monday for community members around Idlers Rest Road, urging them to leave immediately, according to the Idaho Department of Lands website. Multiple families around the area parked on nearby hills to watch as firefighters tried to contain the blaze.
An aerial firefighter crew prepares to drop water over the fire.
The fire devastated one structure with others in danger. The affected area is estimated to be around 150 acres. Firefighters managed to create a perimeter around the fire and are still fighting the flames, according to the website.
Latah County sheriffs talk at a roadblock on Idlers Rest Road in Moscow, Idaho.
