Springdale gas station burns, prompting water worries

The Washington Department of Ecology is assisting with the cleanup of an old Springdale gas station that was destroyed by fire early Saturday, fearing runoff may pose a threat to water quality of the Colville River. The fire was reported to Stevens County fire officials about 5:40 a.m. Fire crews arrived to find the station, at the corner of Highway 231 and First Street in Springdale, fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters from TumTum, Loon Lake, Clayton, Stevens County and Spokane County were called in to extinguish the blaze. The old station used to store car parts, tires, car batteries, and other potentially hazardous and toxic items, ecology official said. Water from fire suppression has reached nearby Sheep Creek, which flows into the Colville River about four miles downstream. An ecology emergency response team responded to assess any toxic products that may be flowing into the creek and posing a threat to water quality, officials said.