In brief: Fire near Saltese Lake contained, no threat

The fire that burned about 10 acres south of Spokane Valley on Thursday is no longer a threat to homes.

The fire has not spread since crews put a line around it Thursday evening, said Spokane County Fire District 8 division chief of fire prevention and public education Marty Long.

The district’s battle against the blaze Thursday was assisted by multiple fire agencies.

“DNR is mopping it up,” Long said. “It will stay smoking for a couple of days.”

The fire is in steep terrain in a heavily wooded area along the 4100 block of East Saltese Lake Road. Rural homeowners should have a 30-foot defensible space cleared around their homes, Long said. One home adjacent to the fire was saved because the homeowners had prepared for it, Long said.

Nina Culver

BNSF gets diesel spill under control quickly

BNSF Railway has contained a diesel spill along its tracks between Pasco and McNary Dam, near the Columbia River, state officials said.

The engine’s fuel tank was punctured early Friday morning by a large rock, according to the Department of Ecology. The diesel leaked to the rail bed, but has not reached the river.

BNSF hired contractors to contain the spill and drain the remaining fuel from the tank, officials said. The contractors also will develop a plan to remove contaminated soil from the rail bed.

“BNSF responded quickly to the spill, and so far no sheen has been spotted in the river,” said Central Region Spill Response Manager Jeff Lewis.

It’s estimated that between 2,000 and 2,500 gallons of diesel spilled. The river will be monitored to look for fuel sheen, officials said.

The train originated at Pasco and was hauling general freight to Seattle.

Staff report

CdA man fired gun at driver, police say

A Coeur d’Alene man was arrested Thursday night after he allegedly fired a gun at a reckless driver.

No one was injured.

Daniel Montgomery was booked into the Kootenai County Jail on suspicion of aggravated assault and unlawful discharge of a firearm, a news release from the Coeur d’Alene Police Department said.

Coeur d’Alene police went to the 1300 block of North Kaleigh Court around 8 p.m. Thursday. They learned that Montgomery had attempted to stop a reckless driver in the neighborhood by pointing a gun at the vehicle, the release said.

Montgomery fired multiple rounds at the vehicle as the driver fled, the release said.

Staff report