Northwest Briefs

Crosswalk removed from Northwest Boulevard

In the interest of pedestrian safety, the crosswalk on the north side of Northwest Boulevard/ River Avenue intersection has been removed. Pedestrians can still cross the boulevard on the south side of the intersection.

Coeur d'Alene street superintendent Tim Martin said motorists exiting River Avenue from the Higher Education Campus and turning northbound onto Northwest Boulevard were creating a potential hazard for pedestrians at the north crosswalk.

Meantime the crosswalk at Hubbard Avenue just to the south of River Avenue, which also leads into the Education Corridor, will remain unchanged and provide pedestrian crossing on both sides of the intersection.

Woman crashes Jeep into police building

HAGERMAN, Idaho (AP) - The Idaho State Police say a 49-year-old woman was injured when she crashed her Jeep into the Hagerman Police Department.

Police say Maryann Poole, of Hagerman, was turning south into the police parking lot Monday afternoon when her foot slipped off the brake and onto the accelerator. The Jeep crashed into the police building.

She was taken to St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls.

Idaho State Police are investigating.

Rain and rising humidity help firefighters

SPOKANE (AP) - Rain and cooler temperatures Monday helped firefighters battling a series of big blazes in north-central Washington and other states in the West.

In Washington, the North Star Complex of wildfires stood at 313 square miles and was about 22 percent contained.

A small amount of rain that fell Sunday didn't even reach the floor of the burning forests, but raised humidity levels, which helped firefighters, fire spokesman Donnie Davis said.

Temperatures in the 50s and 60s on Monday morning inhibited growth of the fire, which was burning east of Omak and north of Nespelem, Davis said.

Meanwhile, the Okanogan Complex of wildfires stood at about 30 percent containment on Monday. Spokesman Bernie Pineda said rain and breezes cleared the smoky air.

"You can see the surrounding foothills," Pineda said.

Three firefighters died when their truck crashed and was overrun by flames while they tried to escape the Okanogan wildfires two weeks ago. A fourth firefighter, 25-year-old Daniel Lyon, sustained burns on more than 60 percent of his body. He underwent his third successful burn surgery at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Monday and remained in serious condition.

The Okanogan Complex became the largest wildfire in state history last week, covering more than 470 square miles.