In brief: Hot, dry weather leads to DNR fire restrictions
The Department of Natural Resources is implementing fire restrictions as a result of the hot, dry weather.
Starting today, the fire danger rating will increase to moderate from low in Spokane and northern Lincoln counties and within fire districts 1 and 2 in Stevens County, the DNR announced in a news release.
That change means outdoor burning is banned on DNR-protected lands without a permit, and campfires are restricted to approved campgrounds.
Tuesday, state Highway 291 near Ford was closed between Corkscrew Canyon Road and state Highway 231 for several hours as a result of a fire.
The 31-acre fire near Amy Lane and the highway was reported about 3:30 p.m. It was 100 percent contained by 7:15 p.m., and there were no reports that structures burned, said Guy Gifford, Department of Natural Resources spokesman.
Driver in critical condition after log truck hits beam
The driver who was ejected from a log truck that plowed into a steel beam Monday afternoon is in critical condition at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.
Keith A. Douglass, 42, of Fernwood, was airlifted to the hospital.
Douglass’ truck, which was southbound on the North Spokane Corridor, hit an upright beam that supports an electronic reader board at 3:07 p.m., the Washington State Patrol said.
Almost 20 minutes before that, WSP received reports of an erratically driven log truck at U.S. Highway 395 and Hatch Road.
Storm-damage repair will close Dunn Road
A portion of Dunn Road at Green Bluff will be closed starting Monday through June 29 to repair damage from last week’s thunderstorms.
The closure applies to the portion of Dunn Road from Day-Mt. Spokane Road to Day Road.
Detours are in place and access will be maintained for residents.
Heat, physics led U.S. 195 to buckle, official says
Heat and the physics of expansion ruptured a section of U.S. Highway 195 northbound, said Al Gilson, Washington State Department of Transportation communications manager. The “blowout” was reported at 5:40 p.m. Monday 4 miles south of Spokane. Crews had both lanes open by 2:40 a.m. Tuesday, he said.
The road, which is divided into concrete sections, was about 50 years old. The sections are designed to move as the road expands because of temperature changes. In this case, the sections were unable to shift from each other, Gilson said. It’s unclear why.
“When they met, they just kept trying to move,” Gilson said. “There was no way to go but up. It’s really a matter of physics.”
Brush fires will produce more smoke by Valley
A pair of brush fires scorched 17 acres south of Spokane Valley on a blistering Monday afternoon.
The blazes were under control Tuesday morning, but area residents can expect to see smoke for several more days, said Chris Wyrobek, division chief at Spokane County Fire District 8.
“We want to see that area slowly burned, to get rid of some of the fuel out there,” Wyrobek said.
The first fire touched off near state Route 27 and East Dishman-Mica Road. A second fire started farther north, and crews branched the two fires to more easily contain them, Wyrobek said.
No structures were damaged in the fires.
The cause of the fires is under investigation. The first flames were seen near railroad tracks.