Waste-to-Energy emissions violate air quality rules
Spokane’s Waste-to-Energy Plant violated air quality regulations Friday and Sunday as the operation’s smokestack emitted purple plumes.
It was unclear Monday what caused the violation, but it was the first time the plant violated standards for opacity, or visible emissions, said Monica Bramble, acting director of Spokane Regional Solid Waste System, which is run by the city of Spokane. The plant is an incinerator that burns most of the garbage collected countywide.
“We’re doing everything we can to identify what the material is,” Bramble said.
Bramble said the problem likely resulted from garbage that should not have been put into the regular waste stream. A city spokeswoman reminded citizens to dispose of pesticides, vehicle batteries and similar materials at waste transfer stations, not at the curb.
Emission violations lasted 17 minutes Friday and 48 minutes Sunday. The city plans to examine ash and unburned waste to find the problem, Bramble said, adding that no reports of health problems related to the emissions have been received.
– Jonathan Brunt
spokane valley
Firefighters respond to early morning blazes
Flames engulfed a barn and storage shed early Monday in the 5300 block of North McDonald Road. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, according to Spokane Valley Fire Department officials who responded to a 911 call from the address shortly after 3 a.m. One of the buildings was collapsing in flames as firefighters arrived.
“There was a 25-foot-by-30-foot barn and a 10-foot-by-15-foot outbuilding,” said Dave Lobdell, Spokane Valley assistant fire chief. “Both were completely destroyed.”
Lobdell said the buildings were being used for storage.
Later on Monday, a small fire began in an apartment at Crossland Economy Studios, 12803 E. Sprague Ave. There, a suitcase was inadvertently left on the stovetop and ignited, Lobdell said. Firefighters responded to a 5:47 a.m. call to discover that emergency sprinklers had doused the flames. Water damage was extensive in the second-floor apartment and the ones beneath it. The damage estimate was $10,000.
– Tom Lutey
Bonners Ferry
Woman arrested after allegedly stealing police SUV
A handcuffed forgery suspect who allegedly stole a police SUV was arrested Monday afternoon near Bonners Ferry.
Shannon L. Kelly, 29, is being held on a $200,000 warrant for felony charges of eluding, escape and grand theft. She was also arrested on three felony counts of forgery and petty theft.
Authorities had been searching for Kelly since Saturday evening, when she allegedly fled in an SUV belonging to the Bonners Ferry Police Department. She had been pulled over on suspicion of forging checks written to area businesses.
Officers cuffed her and placed her in the back of the police SUV while they searched the van she was driving, according to Police Chief Dave Kramer. Police believe she squeezed through a sliding window in the SUV to get into the front seat and drove off.
Kelly, also known as Shannon McClellan, was scheduled to appear in court in Bonner County this week on drug charges, Kramer said. She is being held in the Boundary County Jail.
– Taryn Brodwater