In brief: Fire near Kellogg mostly contained
Eighty firefighters continued a battle Thursday against a 17-acre wildfire south of Kellogg that authorities said is suspicious in origin.
The fire was 90 percent contained, but stubborn hot spots continued to smolder on the mountainside next to the gondola at Silver Mountain Resort.
Authorities are asking for the public’s help in their investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Kellogg Police Department at (208) 786-9131.
Fire Officer Glenn Lauper said investigators are particularly interested in examining any photographs taken before firefighters arrived on the scene. They are also hoping to identify spectators, he said.
“We are looking for anybody who saw anything suspicious,” Lauper said.
Home, vehicles, boats lost in blaze
Two Bayview residents lost their home in an early Thursday fire that also destroyed vehicles and boats.
Roy and Bertha Clanton awoke around 3:25 a.m. to smoke at 33643 Spruce St., a news release from the Timberlake Fire Protection District said. They called 911 then fled the home with their two dogs.
Crews from Timberlake, Northern Lakes, Spirit Lake, Sagle, Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County fire districts responded, along with sheriff’s deputies. The home, attached garage, large shop and a smaller shed all suffered damage. Several vehicles and two boats were destroyed.
No one was injured, and the Clantons are insured. They declined assistance from the Red Cross after receiving offers of help from family members, the release said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but is not considered suspicious, said Timberlake Capt. Jake Capaul.
S-R forecast will save swim fees
The Spokesman- Review is not all wet when it brags about the advertised savings, but subscribers may be.
Readers now can get a discount at Spokane County aquatics centers by checking the S-R weather forecast.
County parks officials are offering a 3-for-2 deal whenever the newspaper says the current day’s temperature will be below 80 degrees.
Two people will pay the regular admission – $2 for ages 3 through 5, $4 for age 6 and older – and a friend may enter free.
The catch is that the pool season is almost over. Sunday is the last day at the Northside Family Aquatic Center, 18120 N. Hatch Road, and the Southside center at 3724 E. 61st Ave. will close a week later.
Here’s the fine print: Same-day daytime forecast applies, no Celsius allowed, free-admission babies and toddlers don’t count.
And FYI – today’s forecast calls for a high of … 80 degrees.
Semitruck hits Trent overpass
A semitruck driver was cited Thursday after striking a Spokane Valley overpass, which led to a second vehicle running into debris, authorities said.
The semi with an oversized load was headed west on Trent Avenue when the load struck the bottom of the overpass at Sullivan Road about 6:25 a.m., Washington State Patrol troopers said.
The semi driver did not stop. A second vehicle following the semi collided with debris from the accident, but was able to follow the truck driver westbound.
The second driver eventually got the truck driver to pull over on the westbound onramp to Interstate 90 at Pines Road.
Troopers responded to the scene and cited the semi driver for failure to leave information at the scene of an accident.
Parachutist seriously injured
SNOHOMISH, Wash. – A Snohomish County fire official said a man in his 40s has been seriously injured during a parachuting accident in Snohomish, Wash.
Battalion Chief Craig Heike with the county’s Fire District 4 told the Daily Herald that something went wrong with the man’s chute Thursday afternoon and his reserve chute was tangled.
Heike said bystanders who saw the man fall rushed over and helped fire crews provide aid.
The unidentified man was taken by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Woman killed kneeling on tracks
SEATTLE – A freight train struck and killed a woman Thursday on the tracks at Carkeek Park in Seattle.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Gus Melonas said the crew blew the whistle and engaged emergency brakes, but the 63-car train could not stop in time. The crew said the woman was kneeling in the middle of the track.
A suspicious device with a fuse was found in the vicinity, so the Seattle police bomb squad responded. Spokesman Mark Jamison said it may have been a leftover firework from the Fourth of July, near the body by coincidence.
The train fatality is the fourth in the Seattle area since Aug. 5. Melonas said the number of railroad trespassing deaths increases in warm weather, as much of the line runs along Puget Sound.