15-Acre Blaze Started At Campfire

Spokane Valley fire investigators say an unattended campfire caused a brush fire Friday afternoon that burned 15 acres just west of the Ponderosa neighborhood.

Dozens of firefighters battled the blaze near 39th and Sunderland that began before 2 p.m.

No homes were threatened.

Crews from Washington Department of Natural Resources, Spokane Valley Fire District and Fire District 8 had the fire under control by 4:15 p.m.

The land where the fire broke out is south of the Dishman Hills Natural Area. It is privately owned, said Valley Fire Marshall Paul Chase.

“In reality, no one should be camping there,” Chase said.

On Friday, smoke billowed from the pine-studded cliffs drawing notice from motorists across the Valley. Many living east of Ponderosa stood in their front yards pointing to the smoke. Dozens of drivers on Dishman-Mica Road pulled to the side of the road to watch two DNR planes drop water and fire retardant.

The fire was the first of two over the weekend in the Valley.

On Saturday afternoon, two acres burned near Mirabeau Point.

Four engines and 14 people from the Valley and DNR responded, said Assistant Valley Fire Chief Dave Lobdell.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, he said.

In the meantime, fire officials are sending out their seasonal warning:

“We want to remind people it’s a high-risk time,” Chase said.