Correction: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spark wildfire

In the May 23 issue of the Whitman County Gazette, in an article titled “U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spark wildfire”, it was inaccurately stated that the May 13 fire was caused by federal workers trying to toss hot coals into the water while cleaning out the fire pits along the river.

According to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Specialist Dylan C. Peters, during the cleaning process crews uncovered still warm coals obscured by a thick layer of burnt ash. Due to windy conditions these coals instantaneously threw burning embers into nearby dry grass which ignite a fire less than a tenth of an acre in size.

The Corps of Engineers Natural Resource Maintenance crew quickly reacted to extinguish this fire, while simultaneously notifying Whitman County Fire District 14.