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Wildland fire a warning shot for summer

| June 21, 2018 1:00 AM

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — Wednesday's brush and wildland fire south of Post Falls that drew the response of five agencies and land and air attacks served as a warning shot for the summer and fireworks activity ahead.

The fire off Riverview and Signal Point roads grew to about 4 acres. The cause was undetermined as of Wednesday night and an investigation continues.

Firefighters battled the blaze for about five hours before it was under control. Some crews were expected to remain on scene for most of the night.

No structures were burned but residents in homes about 50 yards away were put on alert to evacuate.

"We had a significant response," said Steve Isaacson, KCFR division chief. "When we first got there, it was a slow-moving grass fire in dry grass, but then the wind came up and by late afternoon it took off into the trees. Once it got into the trees, we knew we were in trouble."

Ground crews dug a perimeter to contain the fire, while the Idaho Department of Lands attacked the fire in the trees.

"IDL did a phenomenal job with its air drops," Isaacson said. "Once it went into the trees, we were ill-equipped to handle that, so we relied on IDL's experience and tools for that."

KCFR and IDL were assisted by Coeur d'Alene, Spokane Valley, Hauser Lake, Mica-Kidd Island.

Smoke was reported around 3:30 p.m. and KCFR responded with one engine for a typical smoke check.

"As the crew drove up there, they realized it was a grass fire and ordered help right away," Isaacson said. "We're very fortunate it didn't grow larger."

The fire was on private property. There had been clearing of the property and slash piles, but the piles had not been lit.

"We're still not sure what started it," Isaacson said.

There were no injuries.

Isaacson said tenders utilized water at the Catholic school in the area to fight the fire.

Wildland conditions are on the fringe of being tinder, he said.

"The tall grass is getting dry, but thankfully the subground is quite moist still," he said. "You can tell we're getting into fire season, but not quite there yet."

The fire served as a reminder for residents to remember the safety message of "ready, set, run."

"People were ready and knew what they had to take quickly, but they didn't have to take that final step to leave," he said.