Crews Stave Off Eastern Washington Wildfires

Tue., Aug. 31, 1999

From Staff

Crews mopped up two Eastern Washington wildfires Monday that charred about 500 acres of brush and timber and destroyed a residence.

Firefighters hoped to declare the 270 acre Major Creek fire in the Columbia Gorge controlled late Monday. The blaze was contained late Sunday.

Near Wellpinit on the Spokane Indian Reservation, about 50 firefighters contained the Cayuse Mountain fire late Sunday and hoped to have it under control by late today, Bureau of Indian Affairs fire management officer Mark Wynne said.

One firefighter suffered a broken arm while fighting the gorge fire, which destroyed one home. There were no injuries reported at the Cayuse Mountain fire, which burned brush and timber in a remote area of the reservation about 50 miles northwest of Spokane.

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