Wildfire destroys trestle

ALBION - At least one bridge was destroyed by a fire burning Tuesday evening, Sept. 10.

As the newspaper went to press, volunteer firefighters were on-scene on Shawnee Road, just outside of town, where a wooden trestle was burning over the South Palouse River.

The trestle is the second to burn in two years in Whitman County - the Rebel Flat Creek trestle was destroyed a year ago in the Winona Fire.

At least one family chose to evacuate from the area as flames from the blaze encroached on their home. At press time, officials said the house was safe.

It was too early for fire officials to determine where the fire started and what caused it.

Reports of the fire started coming it about 1 p.m., about the same time another blaze was reported.

The flames jumped to a field on Parvin-Albion Road, prompting law enforcement to close down the road. Smoke from the blaze could be seen billowing into the air, catching trees on fire.

At press time, fire crews from Fire District Nos. 4 (Palouse), 11 (Albion) and 12 (Pullman) were on scene, as was Colfax

County Director of Emergency Management Bill Tensfeld was on scene at Shawnee Road as the Colfax Fire truck pulled out to assist contain the field flames at Parvin-Albion Road.

Tensfeld confirmed that several districts were still responding.

Law enforcement encouraged motorists to find alternate routes around the blaze to allow fire crews access.

Reports of multiple fires could have been the same fire, as wind carried embers to nearby areas where dry grass ignited and the flames spread.