Palouse River fire contained

The 3,500-acre Palouse River fire in Whitman County was declared 100 percent contained Sunday, and state firefighters were sent home or to other wildfires.

Early Sunday, crews finished putting a 150-foot-wide “wet line” or containment ring around the fire that broke out about 3 p.m. Wednesday, said fire team spokesman Glenn Johnson.

Even with containment, crews from Colfax and Whitman Rural Fire District 11 will be mopping up hot spots for several days, said Colfax Fire Chief Ralph Walter.

“The fire won’t be completely controlled until our first snow or heavy rain,” he said.

The fire was started by a farmer’s combine in the south Palouse River canyon east of Colfax.

Three structures, including a train trestle and grain elevator, were destroyed, but no homes were lost. The value of the grain elevator and its contents was put at $120,000, Johnson said.

Crews were fed by Washington State University’s Dining Services, after initially being provided food by the American Red Cross and fast-food outlets.

Friday night’s dinner included roast chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn on the cob. Johnson quoted one firefighter as saying, “This is the best food I’ve had on a fire scene in a long time.”

– Bill Morlin

Washington state

Weary firefighters watch the weather

Thousands of firefighters battled hot weather again Sunday – with even higher temperatures forecast for today – as they worked to corral stubborn wildfires burning across Washington state.

“Red-flag” conditions – based on high temperatures, low humidity and wind – were forecast today for the Columbia Complex of fires in the southeast corner of the state and the Tripod Complex in north central Washington, fire spokesmen said.

“Tomorrow might be an interesting day,” said Tripod spokesman Roland Emetaz. “I think Mother Nature holds the cards.”

Temperatures in the 90s and 100s were forecast for the east side of the state.

No major runs were reported on the fires Sunday, and most continued to grow slowly.

– Associated Press

KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST

Historic lookout gets fire wrap

Workers using ropes to rappel finished putting a protective wrap on a historic fire lookout Sunday in Montana’s Kootenai National Forest.

The Gem Peak lookout was not in imminent danger but the Ulm Peak fire raised enough concern to justify the wrap, consisting of material similar to that used for firefighters’ emergency shelters, said Erin Fryer, fire information officer.

The blaze, detected Aug. 18, began in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests and spread to Montana.

– Associated Press