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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Williams Flats Fire 90% contained; smoke expected to linger

Air crews fly around the Whitestone Lookout at the northern edge of the Williams Flats Fire on Tuesday. (Courtesy of Jeff Sevigney)
Air crews fly around the Whitestone Lookout at the northern edge of the Williams Flats Fire on Tuesday. (Courtesy of Jeff Sevigney)
By Will Campbell willc@spokesman.com(509) 459-5513

Firefighters have mostly contained the Williams Flats Fire, which had burned 44,515 acres on the Colville Indian Reservation as of Wednesday, making it the largest wildfire in the state this year.

The fire was 90 percent contained as of Wednesday morning, according to Jeff Sevigney, spokesman for the Williams Flats Fire. About 400 personnel were still working on securing the last section of fire line, mostly along the fire’s the northeast section.

“We think within the next couple of days that will be finished up,” Sevigney said.

On Wednesday, fire crews were also mopping up and repairing fire perimeters on the fire, which was not producing much smoke, he said. While it’s no threat to spreading the fire, smoke will still be visible for a while until heavy precipitation hits the area, he said.

“This thing is going to smoke until it snows probably,” Sevigney said. “There’s a lot of unburned fuels, but fire managers don’t think it poses any threat.”