Fire danger halts Spokane County road crews

The dangerous wildfire season sidelined Spokane County road crews in May, and continued dry conditions means it’s unlikely any work will be done in the foreseeable future. “It’ll be spring before we can get caught up,” said Rocky Ghering, a road maintenance specialist who drives one of the county’s 35 gravel grading rigs. The Spokane County Roads Department is taking between six and eight calls a day from residents along the county’s 1,100 miles of unpaved roads, said Bob Keneally, road maintenance and operations supervisor. “We handle all the phone calls, and we usually call them right back,” he said. But road employees have had to tell most home owners they’re out of luck this summer, with a severe lack of soaking rains that are necessary not only to wet the gravel so it can be moved, but also to avoid the metal grader sparking a fire along the shoulders of county roads. Keneally said last week a street sweeping truck inadvertently touched off a fire that burned some grass along the road before it was quickly extinguished. Steve Bartel, the county’s director of risk management, said he’s working with Keneally and the local fire districts to allow road crews to put out spot fires on their own, without assistance from fire agencies already taxed by this year’s extreme fire activity. “If we’re out on the roads and something starts, we’d like to be able to help it from spreading,” Bartel said. Road crews are also hesitant to bring in water trucks for paving efforts in the extreme conditions, citing high costs and conservation efforts underway for the aquifer and Spokane River. “It’d be very, very difficult to pave this road with water trucks,” Keneally said Wednesday morning, pointing to the gravel-paved Jacobs Road beneath his feet, north of East Valley High School. Home owners along gravel roads in the county, which oversees the largest road system in the state, can request in the winter for contractors to come and treat streets with oil, Kennealy said. Home owners must negotiate with private contractors for the work, which requires permits from the county. The oil keeps the gravel in better shape during the summer and avoids the “washboard” feel of untreated roads. Those interested in obtaining a permit can contact the roads department at (509) 477-3600. Keneally said the best time to call and schedule maintenance is in late winter.