A fire that broke out along railroad tracks near Mullinix Road was quickly whipped by strong winds and consumed 30 acres of scrub timber and forced evacuations of businesses and the Peaceful Pines RV Park and Campground in south Cheney. The fire broke out around 4 p.m., with units from Spokane County Fire District 3 and Cheney Fire Department responding quickly to the blaze inside the city.
The fire moved quickly north, with sudden plumes of black smoke mixing with the gray as individual trees burst into flames. Department of Natural Resources personnel also arrived, and a Level 2 evacuation order was given to businesses and residences in the area to be ready to evacuate at a moments notice.
Eventually four Fire Boss attack aircraft also responded, making air drops on the fire after picking up water at Silver Lake. The fire was reported contained around 7 p.m., but crews stayed on site throughout the night.
At upper left: the fire is shown in its early stages behind Haaken Industries; beginning upper right and middle row: flames burst over the top of storage unit roofs at Cheney Public Storage; lower left: a Fire Boss plane makes a water drop near Cheney Public Storage.
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