The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office is seeking contact with two men seen camping in the area where the 11,000-acre Snake River Fire started.

The fire, which remains active, erupted Tuesday on the south side of the Snake River in Garfield County across from Granite Point — a popular rock climbing and swimming area about 23 miles west of Clarkston on the north side of the river.

According to a news release from the sheriff, several witnesses reported seeing two men believed to be in their early 20s cross the Snake River near Granite Point Monday night in a raft loaded with camping gear. The men were then observed camping in the area, according to the news release.

Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers is asking the men or anybody who has information about the origin of the fire to contact his office at (509) 397-6266. The cause of the fire is under investigation by sheriff offices and fire departments from both Whitman and Garfield counties.

The fire jumped the river Tuesday afternoon and burned hundreds of acres in both counties. Wawawai Road in Whitman County remains closed, according to the 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 at its intersection with U.S. Highway 95 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. Jon Dahman, chief of Whitman County Fire District No. 14, said no homes or structures are known to have been lost to the fire.

Washington State Fire Services have 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 is being established at the Garfield County Fairgrounds.