In brief: Crews contain portion of Colville forest fire

Fire crews battled steep terrain, gusty winds and heavy timber in a blaze that burned 90 acres as of Wednesday evening on Rogers Mountain, five miles west of Aladdin, Wash., in the Colville National Forest.

Despite dry conditions and 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 fire lines around about 60 percent of the fire, said forest spokesman Franklin Pemberton. Officials estimate they will be able to contain the fire by Friday.

The fire was aggravated by thunderstorms passing over the area, he said. Cooler nighttime temperatures and increased humidity were 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 cause of the fire is under investigation. It was reported on Tuesday afternoon.

Passenger who died in rollover identified

A passenger who died in a one-car rollover crash Tuesday in east Spokane was identified Wednesday as Blair Riding, 31.

Riding was a passenger in a 2002 Mercury Sable driven by Michael S. Lindsly, 46. Police say Lindsly crashed while speeding on Broadway Avenue at Alki Way about 5:50 a.m.

Witnesses said the car appeared to be going at least 70 mph. Police say they smelled alcohol in the car and on Lindsly’s breath.

Riding, who was wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Wednesday that he died of blunt trauma to his head, chest, abdomen and pelvis.

Before the crash, Riding was released from jail on his own recognizance Monday evening after appearing in Spokane County Superior Court on charges of possession of a controlled substance and patronizing a prostitute.

Lindsly was treated at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center Tuesday and booked into jail on suspicion of vehicular homicide. He has been readmitted to a hospital but still faces a vehicular homicide charge.

Family displaced after house damaged in fire

A family was displaced Wednesday after a fire started in their northwest Spokane home.

The fire at 2233 W. Broad Ave. was reported about 6:23 p.m., according to a Spokane Fire Department news release. Firefighters discovered smoke showing from the front of the single story, single-family residence.

Crews ensured no occupants were in the home and put out the fire in 25 minutes, the news release said. Structural damage was limited to the area in which the fire originated, but there is moderate smoke damage. Estimated damage total is $15,000. The home is not habitable until utilities are restored and critical repairs are made, so the occupants are being helped by extended family, the news release said.

No one was injured in the fire. The cause is under investigation.

SCRAPS offers special on black cats, kittens

The Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service is overwhelmed with black cats and kittens looking for loving homes.

SCRAPS is offering a special on all black cats through Saturday, according to a SCRAPS news release. Adoption is $20, which includes a spay/neuter voucher, current vaccinations, microchip, license and a free veterinary examination. SCRAPS, located at 2521 N. Flora Road, is open noon to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

“We have approximately 19 black cats and kittens,” said Nicole Montano, lead animal protection officer. “Statistically, black pets are always the hardest to adopt because their personalities are harder to see in their kennels and cages.”

Despite black cats being the hardest to adopt out, they are statistically the friendliest felines, the news release said, and are actually considered good luck in many cultures.

Veteran sentenced for false mileage claims

A man who made more than $20,000 in false mileage reimbursement by lying to the Spokane Veteran Affairs Medical Center about where he lived is to spend six months in jail.

Michael Edward Harrison, 27, is to be on probation for three years and is required to pay $20,464.92 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under a sentence imposed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Spokane.

Harrison, an Army veteran, pleaded guilty in May to four counts of making a false claim for travel benefits.

Veterans Affairs reimburses patients at the Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center 41.5 cents per mile driven to and from the hospital. Harrison lived on West Francis Avenue in Spokane, less than three miles from the hospital, but filed 202 claims between September 2009 and October 2010 that said he traveled from Omak – a 280-mile round trip, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Harrison is to report to the U.S. Marshals Service by noon on Tuesday.