A power line touching the ground was found responsible for starting the Valley Fire that has burned 10,000 acres in the Boise foothills since igniting Oct. 4, according to the Idaho Department of Lands.

Idaho Power has released a statement taking responsibility for starting the Valley Fire just east of Boise.The statement is in response to an investigation by

The Idaho Department of Lands reported that a cross arm on an Idaho Power pole broke, likely starting the fire after the energized wire touched the ground.

The Idaho Department of Lands found that Boise-based Idaho Power was responsible for the nearly 10,000-acre Valley Fire after a downed pole sparked a fire in the dry grassland of the Boise Foothills,