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SPOKANE — Innovia Foundation has opened a Wildfire Emergency Response Fund to support nonprofit organizations, businesses and community organizations working to meet the needs of those impacted by the Grays, Oregon Road and Winona wildfires. The Oregon Road Fire has burned more than 8,000 acres in Elk area of Spokane County. The Winona Fire burned more than 5,000 acres of wheat land and sage steppe in the Winona area of central Whitman County. And the Gray Fire destroyed at least 185 homes and killed one person in the M...
CHENEY - The incoming incident management team hired to oversee Gray Fire response doesn't expect to have the blaze contained until Aug. 30. In an update on the fire released at 8 p.m. Saturday night, Aug. 19, the team reported the fire is 0% (zero percent) contained, burning in dry timber, 2.5-foot-tall grass and brush. The team said the fire is believed to have burned 9,500 acres; 234 firefighters have been assigned to the blaze. Because of smoke, only one helitack team was...
CHENEY — Fire officials are expecting gubernatorial candidate and State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz to visit the fire-ravaged areas in Medical Lake and Cheney on Sunday. At last estimate, the Gray Fire was between 8,000 and 9,500 acres in size - and growing. At least 185 homes, were destroyed Friday, and more succumbed to the flames Saturday. As the state Department of Natural Resources prepares to turn over management of the growing fire to a Type II Incident M...
MEDICAL LAKE — Through a blanket of heavy haze and smoke, a few residents were sifting through belongings, and checking their properties Saturday, Aug. 19, after the Gray Fire raced through the area. Some areas of town have been left untouched such as Ruby's Resort, and the downtown area. Southern Medical Lake was impacted in some areas, and other neighborhoods were spared. Off state Highway 902, the neighborhood along Freeman Drive was left smoldering in large part, with s...
CHENEY — An area here that was under a Level 2 evacuation notice has been upgraded to Level 3 because of the encroaching Gray Fire. This includes the area east of Interstate 90 south of Salnave Road, west of Mullinix Road and North of State Highway 904. Level 3 notices mean fire is imminent and those choosing to evacuate should do so. A new area has been put under a Level 2 notice, as well. A Level 2 notice means fire is approaching and residents who want to evacuate should be...
CHENEY – Traffic has been lined up for hours throughout the city as the Gray Fire continues to burn near Interstate 90. Currently, the fire is most active in the Salnave area west of Cheney and in the Tyler area. Smoke, and actively burning fires have forced the continued closure of both the eastbound and westbound lanes of I-90, so traffic is being filed through Cheney from both sides. The interstate is closed at Sprague for eastbound travelers and Geiger for folks trying t...
MEDICAL LAKE - Smoke from the growing Gray Fire has prompted the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency to advise residents to reduce steps to reduce their exposure. The fire had grown to between 8,000 and 9,500 acres, according to local fire officials. Airborne particulates and ash were falling around Medical Lake, Cheney, Four Lakes, Tyler and other areas. Because of the air quality deterioration, several activities have been canceled in the area. In Cheney, Eastern Washington...
