Firefighting, debris will continue to block SR 291

Aug. 13, 2013 Updated Tue., Aug. 13, 2013 at 9:38 p.m.

Staff report

A brush fire near the Spokane/Stevens county line is blocking state Route 291 for the Wednesday morning commute. The fire, six miles northwest of Spokane, started Tuesday afternoon about 2:45. All lanes were blocked for firefighting efforts and because of falling debris on the steep terrain. Tuesday evening, a spokesman for the Washington Department of Transportation announced that the road would be closed at least through Wednesday morning and urged commuters to seek alternate routes.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.