Firefighters make headway in Lincoln County blaze

More than 80 acres of steep terrain in Lincoln County were still ablaze Thursday evening, but crews say they have the so-called Flatlanders Fire under control.

The fire started Tuesday afternoon in a partially wooded area northeast of Fort Spokane and west of Lilienthal Mountain and grew to 100 acres. It originally threatened some 20 structures, but none have been lost.

Crews anticipate the fire will be 100 percent contained by Saturday, said Guy Giffords, a spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources. The last of three helicopters will cease dumping water within a day, and a number of firefighters will be relieved of duty, he said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.