Fire sweeps up west hill

--Shirlene Young photo

A dramatic situation quickly developed after a transformer sparked a fire on the west hill in Colfax above Hamilton Park. Although the night time photo shows little detail, it does show the fire’s close proximity to this neighboring home.

Colfax fire crews late Thursday night, Aug. 18, stopped a fire which swept across grass and brush on the west hill above the old Almota Road in south Colfax. Power supply was knocked out to the southwest corner of town at about 11:15 that night.

The fire started just north of the old Almota Road. Jeff Solbrack, who now resides in the former Barry Davis house on the road, said he heard the transformer blow, which is located about 60 feet from his residence.

The transformer was located between the Solbracks' residence and a neighboring duplex.

Solbrack said wind was a key factor in saving his residence, although they became concerned embers from the fire could blow up hill toward the houses on Scenic View Drive.

"I was surprised how fast the fire trucks got here," Solbrack said.

Bill Rodgers, who lives on Middle Street south of Hamilton Park, said they heard a popping at their house and looked out the back door to see a wall of flames on the face of the hill. Rodgers said his first impression was the Solbrack's house, which is located above him, was engulfed in flames.

He also noted wind direction and a quick response by fire crews played a role in limiting the extent of damage to the hillside.

"If that wind had been blowing in its normal direction, things would have been a lot different around here this morning," Rodgers commented Friday.

Residents in the Hillcrest area reported seeing large sparks flying off the transformer which was mounted on a pole across from the Washington State Patrol office at the intersection of Hillcrest and Fairview.

Initial sparks from that transformer were followed by a blast at about 11:15 p.m.

Embers from the Hillcrest transformer also blew toward the Scenic View Drive area. The field ignited on the top end behind the knoll which separates the open field area from the Donald Stine residence which faces Fairview. Colfax city and rural district fire crews responded. Steptoe, Diamond and Albion all sent trucks. Also trucks from Rosalia, Palouse and Pullman Rural District 12 responded to the scene. Total roster of units on the scene was 22.

The initial fire report was logged at 11:13 p.m.

Electric service was knocked out for parts of the south end of town into the early morning hours. Power supply for Whitman Hospital was knocked out from 11:14 p.m. until 3:52 a.m., and the hospital operated with its backup generating units.