Fires erupt in Spokane and Whitman Counties

WINONA - Multiple fires exploded Friday afternoon across both Spokane and Whitman Counties, leaving at least one person dead and burning thousands of acres.

Evacuation notices were issued for Medical Lake, Cheney, Four Lakes, Elk, Winona and other places.

The larger fires were reported in Medical Lake and Elk, both in Spokane County, and Winona, in central Whitman County.

At least one person died and multiple homes were destroyed in the Gray Fire, which broke out about noon near Eastern State Hospital, burning in dry grass, timber and wheat in Medical Lake.

The fast-moving blaze quickly spread toward Four Lakes and Cheney and jumped Interstate 90.

Spokane County Fire District No. 3 Chief Cody Rohrbach requested state assistance and air support was called in.

Over the scanner, Air Support personnel said they were losing homes faster than they could count; official have yet to estimate the number of destroyed structures.

One person reportedly died in the blaze; officials have yet to release any information on the death.

As the fire spread, transportation officials closed state Highway 902 and at 5:16 p.m., shuttered Interstate 90 between Tyler and Four Lakes, a 13-miles stretch of the highway.

Meanwhile, hundreds of residents fled Medical Lake, clogging roads in the city and nearby Cheney. Eastbound interstate traffic was routed into Cheney, adding to the traffic problems on state Highway 904, the main thoroughfare through the Cheney.

Traffic backed up for miles, with the backup extending from the Betz Road area through the city and past the Cheney Free Press. With traffic at a standstill, several businesses closed, including Zips, which is generally open all times of the day and night.

As of 9:15 p.m. northbound traffic was still at a near standstill.

At last count, officials said the blaze was about 3,000 acres.

Initially, an evacuation shelter was set up at Cheney High School, but later moved to Spokane Falls Community College when evacuation notices were issued for the Cheney area.

Oregon Fire

On the north end of Spokane County, more evacuation notices were issued as the Oregon Fire neared the town of Elk. That fire erupted about 4:12 p.m. and quickly grew to more than 2,000 acres, threatening approximately 30 homes, timber and power infrastructure.

The cause of the Oregon Fire remains under investigation, officials said.

Winona Fire

In Whitman County, the Winona Fire, fanned by gusty winds, raced across wheat-covered hills and through dry sage and grass.

The fire broke out about 2:15 p.m .; at last report, it had reached 5,000 acres and was growing.

Fire crews from all over the county as well as several from Idaho poured onto Endicott Road through Winona to protect homes and historic buildings.

Several buildings and old RVs were destroyed, but fire crews so far have been able to prevent the flames from spreading to the town's historic buildings and the General Mills plant.

A train trestle spanning the Palouse River burned as flames raced toward the town.

Four FireBoss aircraft were called in to drop water on the hillsides. Farmers also took to the hills with equipment to dig fire lines.

As the sun set the fire was moving north along the Palouse River and Lancaster Road.

Fire District No. 6 Chief Keith Luft received state assistance approval at 4:15 p.m. as the flames threaten crops, homes and other buildings.

The cause of that fire remains under investigation.