Region in brief: Storms start fires, damage buildings

Lightning from Tuesday’s severe thunderstorms sparked small fires in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, and high winds from the storm caused damage to homes and property, officials reported.

No large fires were reported, but dispatchers from several counties outside Spokane reported fires of less than an acre on private and public lands.

In Stevens County, firefighters were called to a brush fire near Fruitland, Wash., on Kennedy Road east of the Columbia River about 5 p.m. The fire was contained quickly, but by 9 p.m. more than a dozen fires had been reported elsewhere, a dispatcher said.

In Newport, Wash., uprooted trees fell on homes and damaged the United Church of Christ in town, officials said.

In North Idaho, high winds from the storm uprooted trees and damaged at least three houses at Kalispell Bay on Priest Lake, the National Weather Service reported.

Sara Leaming

Second jury can’t agree on rape charge

A second trial has ended in a hung jury for a man charged with a 2007 rape near Whitworth University.

In November, a jury convicted Kevin A. Thompson, 22, of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and first-degree criminal trespassing. But it could not reach a unanimous decision on the second-degree rape charge.

Deputy Prosecutor Ed Hay again presented the rape case last week, but a jury on Monday was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Hay said no decision on how to proceed has been made.

Thompson was arrested Nov. 2, 2007, in his home near Nine Mile Falls after a 21-year-old woman told police that someone had entered her home on North Waikiki Road and attacked her before fleeing. The woman was not a Whitworth student, but the incident prompted school officials to remind students to keep doors locked.

Thomas Clouse

County burning ban in effect until Sept. 15

Spokane County is banning open burning and any recreational fires in the unincorporated areas through Sept. 15.

The burn ban, prompted by dry conditions, was issued Tuesday by Building Director Mark Holman, who is also the county’s fire code official. It covers any unauthorized open fires; it does not cover field burning that has prior approval, backyard barbecues, chimneys or deck warmers if charcoal, seasoned firewood or propane is being used.

Anyone caught with an unapproved open fire can be fined up to $1,000 if he or she does not put it out immediately. The ban will be reviewed by fire agencies in September to determine whether it should be continued.

Jim Camden