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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Loud Boom Puzzling To Residents

Residents of North Idaho, Eastern Washington and Montana flooded area emergency centers with calls Thursday after a loud boom had echoed through the evening air.

Residents from Sandpoint to Spirit Lake, Idaho, reported hearing a boom and feeling buildings shake, emergency dispatchers said.

“We probably had at least 20 calls,” said Dorothy Rennich, a reserve deputy in Pend Oreille County, Wash. She said calls came in from as far north as the Out Post resort north of Cusick, Wash.

In Idaho, Bonner County and Kootenai County sheriff’s departments fielded more than 20 calls.

“The only thing we can figure is it was a sonic boom because of the area it covered,” said Kootenai County sheriff’s Sgt. Dick White.

Fairchild Air Force officials agree. Base officials fielded calls about the boom, one from as far away as Troy, Mont., said Master Sgt. Dan Conrad.

“It wasn’t one of the Fairchild aircraft; we don’t have aircraft that make sonic booms,” he said.

Conrad said it’s possible an aircraft from another base was flying in the area. Conrad said he would check today to find out what had caused the commotion.

, DataTimes