The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office has identified three people who may be responsible for the 11,000-acre Snake River fire.

According to a news release Wednesday from the sheriff’s office, authorities were contacted by the individuals, who agreed to be interviewed by investigators. During the meeting, all three allegedly said they camped on the Garfield side of the Snake River near Granite Point and built a small campfire in the same location where the fire is believed to have started Tuesday.

Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers said in the news release that his department will work with the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and prosecutors from the two counties to determine what charges may be filed. The names of the three were not released by the sheriff Wednesday, but Myers indicated they have agreed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

The fire saw minimal growth Wednesday after erupting Tuesday on the south side of the Snake River in Garfield County, where it spread rapidly and jumped the river to the Whitman County side.

Washington State Fire Services mobilized firefighting resources, including 10 strike teams, four hand crews and aircraft from around the state to battle the fire. A fire camp and operations center was established at the Garfield County Fairgrounds and a spike camp has been set up at Colton High School. Jon Dahmen, chief of Whitman County Fire District No. 14, estimated the fire burned only a few hundred acres in the county Wednesday.

“Things are looking a lot better,” he said. “The state has come in and started organizing things with several strike teams and we have dozer and air support — things are looking really good.”

Fire behavior was also moderate, with minimal growth on the south side of the river. John Hirsch, emergency management director for Garfield County, said the fire is staying in the steep, roadless canyon and crews have cut fire lines to catch it should it make a run for the rim and the wheat fields beyond.

“We are hoping as it comes up on top we will be able to stop it there,” he said.

Wawawai Road in Whitman County remains closed, according to a news release. The road is blocked at its intersection with Steptoe Canyon Road about 8 miles west of Clarkston and at its intersection with State Route 194 where it intersects with U.S. Highway 195 near Pullman.

Some residents who evacuated Tuesday are being allowed to return to their homes as long as their homes are not in close proximity to active fire. Dahman said no homes or structures are known to have been lost to the fire.

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Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2273. Follow him on Twitter @ezebarker.