Johnson Fire cuts 6 mile long swath

Photos by Nick Van Arsdle and Shea Stanton

The line of fire sweeps through a stubble field near Johnson. The front was estimated at one-half mile wide.

Last Thursday’s blast of a wind front through Whitman County during the height of harvest took a toll on fire crews and volunteers. At least five fires were logged in the area with the largest being a fire that ripped across six miles of the county south of Pullman.

A red flag alert had been issued in advance of the storm front Thursday.

The fire closed Highway 195 and threatened several homes.

The fire reportedly started in the Mac Hatley road...