Work starts on burned cars

MALDEN-A plethora of "VIN Inspection" entries have been showing up on the Whitman County Sheriff's log as part of the first steps to removed the vehicles destroyed by the Babb/Malden Fire Sept. 7.

There are an estimated 250-300 burned out vehicles that need to be removed as part of the clean up in Malden and Pine City, according to Undersheriff Chris Chapman. A VIN inspection is the beginning of the paperwork to have those vehicles hauled away for crushing, especially those that may not have had a title. Chapman noted many of the vehicles were old.

The town has compiled a list of scrappers who can come and remove vehicles free of charge. It is up to the property owners to make the arrangements to have the vehicles removed.