In brief: Fire threatens MacMahan Road homes
The Department of Natural Resources and Spokane County Fire District 9 were battling a fire on MacMahan Road east of Forker Road late Wednesday.
The fire, which was reported just before 7 p.m., was estimated at 7 to 10 acres late Wednesday, and two tanker planes dropped water on the fire before night fell. Two homes were threatened and one outbuilding was destroyed, DNR spokesman Guy Gifford said.
Firefighters were attempting to put a trail around the fire Wednesday night. Winds dropped after nightfall, and the fire was moving slowly northeast, Gifford said.
Suspicious blaze burns two garages
A fire that investigators said was intentionally set destroyed two garages and a car early Wednesday in north Spokane.
Firefighters were called about 4 a.m. to the intersection of East Baldwin Avenue and North Columbus Street, where they found several apparent fire starts. At least one gasoline can was found in the vicinity. Damage was estimated at $80,000.
Fire near Ione covers 507 acres
The fire burning on the south and east sides of Baldy Mountain about 5 miles northwest of Ione, Washington, grew only slightly Wednesday, held in check by fire lines and water dumps from helicopters and aircraft.
The Baldy fire, which has been burning since Saturday, was mapped at 507 acres Wednesday evening. In some areas, the mountain is so steep firefighters can’t attack the flames from the ground, fire information officer Alan Hoffmeister said.
There are a few homes about a mile north of the fire but they are not considered threatened, Hoffmeister said.
Portions of Jim Creek and Cedar Creek roads are being used as fire lines and are closed. Several local trails also are closed.
Three Sisters fire close to homes
A wildfire in Bonner County near Bayview has burned about 250 acres in heavy timber and is within a mile of homes.
The Three Sisters fire broke out Tuesday afternoon, and by Wednesday about 225 firefighters were working on it as three helicopters dropped water on the flames.
The fire is about 3 miles northwest of Bayview and a mile and a half north of the area where the Cape Horn fire burned earlier this summer, destroying six homes overlooking Lake Pend Oreille.
Fire engines were staged at several houses as a precaution.