Passing Train Sparks Brush Fires Homeowners South Of City Edgy, But Fire Crews Gain Control Of Blaze

Sparks from a train rolling along a Burlington Northern line south of Spokane ignited several brush fires that rattled residents and kept fire crews hopping Tuesday.

Nearly a half-dozen blazes broke out about 2:30 p.m. along the tracks west of Cheney-Spokane Road, about three miles southwest of U.S. Highway 195.

Most of the fires were small and quickly contained by crews from Fire District 8 and the state Department of Natural Resources.

But three took hold in heavy brush and trees, sending clouds of smoke billowing across the area.

Nervous residents hosed down their roofs and began preparing to evacuate livestock as the flames inched down the railroad grade toward the road.

Sheriff’s deputies and state troopers closed a 2-mile stretch of Cheney-Spokane Road for two hours while fire crews fought the blaze.

The largest fire grew to nearly 30 acres, gobbling trees and burning to within 20 yards of at least one mobile home.

Ground crews aided by two helicopters and three airplanes that dumped water and retardant beat back the flames before they reached any buildings.

Winds were light, which gave firefighters an advantage.

The blazes were under control by about 6 p.m., although DNR crews were on the scene into the evening mopping up hot spots.

DNR officials also announced Tuesday that most crews who fought the Newkirk Road and Tum Tum wildfires west of Spokane would be going home by the end of today.

Those two blazes scorched nearly 2,000 hours and destroyed five homes before being contained over the weekend.

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