Suspicious vehicle prompts Fairchild closure

A suspicious vehicle caused the main gate at Fairchild Air Force Base to be shut down for several hours Saturday. Security forces detained a civilian woman after she attempted to enter the gate through the outbound lane about 11:45 a.m. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol took the woman into custody and she was admitted to an area hospital for an unknown reason. As a precaution, the surrounding area was evacuated by first-responders, including security forces, firefighters and an explosive ordnance disposal team, officials said. Officials declined to say whether the woman made any threats. “The safety and security of everyone at Fairchild is paramount, and I’m proud of the way our airmen responded,” Col. Mike Hill, the 92nd Mission Support Group commander, said in a prepared statement. “We worked with local authorities to resolve the situation and we appreciate their help.” The incident remains under investigation.