Andrus Road fire near Cheney at 55% containment

CHENEY -- State Patrol officials are reporting that the fire which broke out Monday near Andrus Road has reached 55% containment. Crews utilized infrared technology on the fire line overnight to look for hot spots, and will continue to conduct mop up operations today within 200 feet from the fire perimeter as well as begin the repair process.

"In the initial attack of a fire the crews may have to cut fence or drive into areas we wouldn't normally drive into," State Patrol Trooper and Andrus Fire command spokesman Jeff Sevigney said in a release. "It is the goal of the teams to return those areas to the way they were before the fire."

Using the infrared technology allowed fire crews another set of "eyes" with which to make sure the fire was completely out and there were no hot spots within the mop up area.

The only evacuation orders that remain in place are at a level 1. This affects approximately 24 residents adjacent to the fire and road blocks are still in place.

Roads still currently blocked are Thomas Mallon between Melville and Andrus and Soda Road north of Andrus. Local residents only are allowed past the road blocks.

There are approximately 272 personnel assigned to the incident and to date there have been no reported injuries or any structures lost. More crews will check out from the incident today and return to their home agency or move to another fire. The total acreage remains at 232 and is expected to stay at that number.

The Andrus Fire started Monday, July 5, at approximately 11:30 am, three miles northeast of Cheney, near Andrus Rodd. Firefighters from Spokane County fire districts 3, 4, 8, 9 and 10, Airway Heights Fire, Cheney Fire, Spokane City Fire, Spokane Valley Fire, Lincoln County, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and numerous other agencies responded.