Fire near Creston 45 percent contained
The Swanson Lake fire, which has burned 19,090 acres, is 45 percent contained, officials said.
The fire started Aug. 18, and is burning wheat fields, sagebrush and scattered timber in rough, steep terrain five miles southwest of Creston, in Lincoln County.
Diminishing winds helped firefighters late in the week, but the weekend’s rising temperatures brought increased risk of flare-ups.
One home, two cabins and 15 outbuildings have been lost in the fire.
Residents of Hawk Creek Ranch Road and Hawk Creek Canyon Estates in Dodd Canyon remain at an emergency notice Level 2 – which means they are urged to stay out of burned areas, away from fallen and burned trees and downed power lines.
Spokane County
Pro Gas announces drag racing schedule
Spokane Pro Gas Association is bringing back drag racing to Spokane County Motor Sports Park, formerly Spokane Raceway Park.
Race dates are Aug. 30, Sept. 13, Sept. 20 and Sept. 27 – gates will open at 9 a.m.
“We are grateful that the (county) commissioners decided to keep this racetrack around,” said Bob Hallock, a long-time member of the Spokane Pro Gas Association. “Around the country, once the racetracks close up, they tend to just kind of go away – we’re glad that’s not the case here.”
Hallock said they are expecting up to 4,500 people on race days.
“Families want a safe place for youngsters to race – it’s an ideal situation for that,” Hallock said.
Eliminations for bracket racing classes will begin at 1 p.m. with races every few minutes all afternoon. Then from 6 p.m. until midnight the street racers will run the quarter-mile.
“We have a lot of great volunteers coming from the street racing community,” Hallock said.
Licensed food vendors are still needed, Hallock said. There will be no alcohol, camping or weapons allowed on racing day.
Admission is $7, for a full day of drag racing – a tech card (the obligatory safety inspection) is $25. For street racers, the admission fee includes a free tech card.
PRESTON, Idaho
Franklin County Jail shut down
Franklin County Sheriff Don Beckstead has shut down the county’s antiquated jail because of safety concerns.
The county’s inmates were transferred to a jail in Caribou County last week.
Beckstead’s decision came after ACLU-Idaho officials threatened to file a lawsuit over concerns that inmates in the jail were being housed without any nighttime supervision. The ACLU apparently became concerned after learning about an inmate’s suicide and an inmate-on-inmate assault.
Beckstead said the jail hasn’t had nighttime supervision since 1987, but that inmates were kept under video surveillance and could contact emergency dispatchers using an intercom system.
The Franklin County Jail, built in 1935, has a two-person staff.
SEATTLE
Red train stalls, passengers evacuated
The Seattle Monorail’s red train – which returned to service less than two weeks ago after repairs – stalled downtown on Saturday and firefighters had to be called to lower passengers from the elevated track.
The train, carrying 150 to 200 passengers, stalled just after 4 p.m. above Fifth Avenue between Lenora and Blanchard streets.
No injuries were reported. Passengers were evacuated by fire truck ladders and by the blue train. The tracks are 33 feet tall.
The red train was out of service because of an electrical problem from Aug. 4-10. The cause of Saturday’s stoppage was not immediately available, although witnesses said it appeared simply to lose power and glide to a stop.
The red and blue Monorail trains have each logged more than 1 million miles around downtown Seattle since the 1962 world’s fair.
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, Mont.
Backcountry hiker still missing
A search for a hiker missing in the backcountry of Glacier National Park reached its fourth day Saturday with no sign of the 27-year-old man.
Yi-Jien Hwa, of Louisville, Ky., was reported to be overdue by his family on Monday, the last day of a weeklong, nearly 100-mile hike Hwa had planned.
An initial search was conducted Wednesday, followed by larger searches Thursday and Friday.
Incident commander Patrick Suddath sent 60 searchers and two helicopters out Saturday, focusing on the early part of Hwa’s planned hike.
Suddath and his staff determined the areas to search Saturday based on the itinerary Hwa listed when obtaining a backcountry permit and conversations he had with his family.
He said Hwa left food, clothing and equipment in his car that he might have planned to collect between segments of his hike.
Suddath said he and his staff have been in contact with Hwa’s family members, keeping them informed of the search efforts.
Hwa is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs about 170 pounds. He is believed to be carrying a blue Kelty backpack and trekking poles, along with other equipment, and might be wearing dark-colored clothing. Park officials ask anyone with information to call Glacier National Park at (406) 888-7801.