High winds, hot, dry conditions fueling fires

Blackened smoke is seen above the hills of South Palouse River Road where a fire was sparked around 3:30 Friday. Fire Crews from Colfax, Steptoe, Albion and Diamond of District 11, District 4 of Palouse, District 12 of Pullman and District 13 of Onecho responded to the blaze, which burned approximately 150 acres of wheat and barley stubble on Greg Jones’ property and 50 acres of standing wheat on Roger and Dean Miller’s property. For more pictures of recent fires, see the weekly pages.

This summer has seen record temperatures and low humidity, contributing to the spark of several fires across the county.

A large number of fires have been seen throughout the county, many of them harvest related. It is normal to see harvest fires this time of year, but former Colfax Fire Chief Jim Krouse said this has been an exceptional year.

“We’ve had more fires this year, and they’ve been intense,” he said. “Stuff that normally wouldn’t start a fire is starting fires.”

Krouse said high winds and temperatures along with low humidity have fueled the fires.

A small harvest fire two weeks ago at the John Morasch property in Endicott was caught quickly enough to prevent damage.

“It wasn’t too dramatic,” Morasch said.

The fire burned less than an acre of stubble after a grain truck driving through the field sparked the small blaze. Morasch was harvesting his field at the time and did not notice the fire, nor did the driver of the truck.

“The driver didn’t even know he lit a fire,” Morasch said. “He just kept on driving.”

Morasch credits his neighbors with preventing an extensive fire, which he knows could have been bad with the present conditions.

“Luckily they were harvesting in a position where they saw the flames,” he said.

The neighbors phoned 911, and the Endicott fire crews responded quickly and put the fire out.

Two harvest-related fires near Pullman were also spared extensive damage. Chief Lester Erwin credits the area farmers with being prepared in helping contain those fires.

“The farmers have done a good job,” he said. “We appreciate them working with us.”

A small fire southeast of Pullman near the Idaho border on Sand Road and Birch Road was sparked by a grain truck. Erwin said a disc cut helped to quickly put out that fire.

“They tractor disced up the whole area and it was gone by the time we got there,” Erwin said.

Another fire Aug. 3 burned 50 acres on Barbie Road southwest of Pullman, and the disc cut was instrumental in helping put that one out as well. Disc cuts have been used with other area fires, but many of those fires have jumped the cuts with high winds.

“That wind can grab a spark and carry it over a cut,” Erwin said. “It’s still slowing them down and helping put the fire out.”

Early in the harvest season, a fire off of Highway 194 near Onecho burned more than 200 acres.

“That one burned quite a bit,” Erwin said. He said that fire has been one of the worst this season.

A field fire west of Palouse on Olson Road July 21 burned 75 acres of stubble and 15 acres of standing grain, destroying a grain truck in its path.

Palouse Fire Chief Mike Bagott also said dry weather and high winds have been a prevalent factor in fueling fires around the county.

Another field fire in Palouse was reported July 24. Palouse, Colfax, Steptoe and Albion crews responded to the afternoon blaze, which started in a field being harvested by Frank Lange and threatened the home of Ernie Motteram.

Strong winds were a contributing factor to that fire, which became a fast-moving fire with rolling flames and blowing smoke before it was put out. That fire burned approximately 10 acres of grain and 20 acres of stubble.

A fire at Greg Jones’ ranch Friday afternoon east of Colfax on South Palouse River Road burned approximately 200 acres, Krouse said. Jones had just finished his harvest and was in the process of clearing his equipment when he noticed smoke in the field, Krouse said of the blaze. The fire quickly advanced, and it is suspected the fire started off his machinery.

“They don’t know for sure (what started it), but it was probably a truck,” said Krouse. “It could have been a combine, but it was more likely a truck.”

The blaze came within 100 yards of Jones’ house before winds pushed it back. The fire consumed about 150 acres of wheat and barley stubble on Jones’ property, and crossed over into the adjacent field leased by Roger and Dean Miller, and burned about 50 acres of standing wheat, Krouse said.

Krouse said Jones attempted to control the blaze with disc cuts, but the fire “just kept jumping the cuts” at several places. It took about two hours to control the fire and put it out. Volunteers from Colfax, Palouse, Pullman, Albion, Steptoe, Onecho and Diamond came together to put out the blaze.

In the midst of these fires, Krouse is stressing fire safety for all.

“Have your disc hooked up to your tractor,” he said as a way to be ready in the event of a fire igniting.

He is urging all to “be careful” and reminding people that the high temperatures and winds with the low humidity make for unfavorable conditions.

Krouse also said another fire earlier in the day Friday has been labeled “undetermined and suspicious.”

The wildland fire on the hillside of Danaher Road was reported by employees at Papé Machinery, Inc., located across Highway 195 from the scene of the fire. Several motorists also reported the fire.

The blaze, like others in the area, was fueled by hot and dry conditions and high winds. Volunteers from Albion, Rosalia, Steptoe and Colfax responded to the fire.

Krouse is asking anyone with information about the fire to come forward by calling the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office.

The fire, unlike the others sparked recently, was not harvest related.

“Somebody might have seen something, and we’d appreciate the help,” Krouse said. “That fire had no reason for starting. Nobody was working in the area.”

The Sheriff’s Office can be contacted at 397-6266.

Another non-harvest related fire occured Saturday night when an outbuilding at a marijuana farm west of Endicott caught fire. The cause of the fire is not considered suspicious.