In brief: Five killed in Idaho house fire identified

Authorities in North Idaho have released the names of five people they believe died in a house fire Saturday morning in Orofino pending confirmation through autopsies.

The Orofino Police Department on Sunday identified the victims as 39-year-old Rosemary Wooster, 31-year-old Allen West, 17-year-old Trevor Wiley, 13-year-old Zachary Wooster and 13-year-old Colby Stedman.

Four of the victims lived at the home, while Stedman was staying overnight as a friend of Zachary Wooster. The boys shared a birthday recently.

Investigators said all five likely died in their sleep from smoke inhalation; none attempted to flee the fire and the bodies were badly burned.

Fire investigators say an overloaded extension cord on the porch likely caused the fire, and no smoke alarms were found in the home.

Stevens Pass extends ski season after storm

A recent snowstorm that dumped 2 feet of snow has extended the skiing season at Stevens Pass. The ski resort was scheduled to close Sunday but will now be open today and April 20-21.

The new storm brings the total snow reported at the resort this season to 501 inches.

Lift tickets for the remainder of the season will be $55 for ages 16-69, $39 for ages 7-15 and $15 for ages 70 and older. Children 6 and under ski for free.

Dust storm causes chain-reaction crash

BOISE – An eastern Idaho dust storm that dropped visibility to zero caused at least 16 vehicles to collide, blocking both the eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 86 west of Pocatello.

The Idaho State Police said all lanes were closed in both directions for a 12-mile stretch of the interstate Saturday from about 4 p.m. to nearly 10 p.m.

Police said an unknown number of people were transported to area hospitals but none of the injuries were thought to be serious.

An ISP dispatcher on Sunday said the agency was still receiving reports and tallying numbers of vehicles and people caught in the chain-reaction crash.