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

90-acre blaze reported on Colville Forest

Fire crews battled steep terrain, gusty winds and heavy timber in a blaze that burnt 90 acres as of Wednesday evening on Rogers Mountain, five miles west of Aladdin, Wash., in the Colville National Forest. Despite dry condition and gusty winds, interagency fire crews, with the assistance of aircraft, have checked a portion of the fire’s progress southwest of the South Fork of Rogers Creek and put firelines around about 60 percent of the fire, said Franklin Pemberton, the forest’s spokesman. Officials estimate they will be able to contain the fire by Aug. 12. The fire was aggravated by thunderstorms passing over the area, he said. Cooler nighttime temperatures and increased humidity are helping firefighting efforts. No structures are immediately threatened and crews are working to minimize the loss of timber and protect the Rogers Mountain Trail No. 131. The fire’s cause is still under investigation. It was reported on Tuesday afternoon, is burning in heavy logging slash and has been putting up a visible smoke column, Pemberton said. Officials said travelers on County Highway 9425, also known as the Clugston Creek/Onion Creek Road, will encounter heavy traffic because of firefighting vehicles.