Fire near Saltese Lake threatened eight homes

A hillside fire south of Spokane Valley on Thursday afternoon threatened eight homes but was prevented from growing larger than an estimated 10 acres thanks to firefighters on the ground and planes dropping water and fire retardant.

Flames near the 4100 block of South Saltese Lake Road were burning in steep and hilly terrain, making it a challenge for fire crews. Residents within a half-mile radius of the blaze were told to be ready to evacuate, but were not required to leave their homes.

The Saltese Lake Fire is inside Spokane County Fire District 8, but engines, water tankers and crews from several other fire districts responded to help. Those assisting included the Department of Natural Resources, Spokane Fire, Spokane Valley Fire and Spokane County Fire Districts 10, 11 and 13.

The brisk winds that swept the area Thursday were not a factor, said Guy Gifford of the DNR. “We’re lucky,” he said. “We’re on the east slope. We’re kind of sheltered from the wind.”

As darkness fell, the fire seemed calm, burning low to the ground and not burning vertically up trees.

“Once nighttime hits, the humidity rises and the temperature drops,” Gifford said.

Spokane County Fire District 8 Assistant Chief Greg Godfrey said about 7:30 p.m. that firefighters had successfully hemmed the fire in.

“We’ve put a line around the fire so it can’t grow,” he said.

The plan was to leave crews at the scene overnight to monitor the fire line and allow the flames in the area surrounded by the line to burn out, Godfrey said.

“Tomorrow we’ll come back with even more resources,” he said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.