ACFPD responds to fires outside of Ritzville, Lind, Ralston

Adams County Fire Protection Districts No. 1 and No. 2 responded to multiple fires last week.

On Aug. 2, ACFPD No. 1 responded to a grass fire on Interstate 90, milepost 239. County Fire Chief Scott Kembel said the agency deployed five trucks and eight firefighters to the scene. He added the Sprague Fire Department provided assistance because of the fire’s proximity to the county line.

Kembel noted crews spent 3-4 hours at the scene. The fire burned about four acres of grass. He said there was no official cause of the fire.

The same day, ACFPD No. 1 responded to a fire near the grain elevators in Ralston at around 7 p.m. Kembel explained the department sent seven vehicles with 11 firefighters to the scene.

Benge Fire Department assisted with the fire. Kembel noted approximately five acres of grass and wheat were damaged, and there was no official cause of the fire.

During the Ralston fire, ACFPD No. 1 received a call for flames visible at the location from the previous fire. Kembel said the department sent one vehicle to investigate, but found no fire.

On Aug. 3, ACFPD No. 1 responded to a wheat fire on Weber Road, outside of Ritzville city limits. Kembel said 11 vehicles and 21 firefighters deployed to the scene, and were also assisted by the McCall/Harder crew. He added a couple of local farmers provided assistance during the blaze.

Three structures were threatened and crews kept the blaze from reaching the homes and moving to a neighboring wheat field.

Kembel noted 20 acres of wheat and grass were damaged and the cause of the fire was a combine.

He thanked the Washington State Patrol, Adams County Sheriff’s Office and Ritzville Police Department for their assistance with traffic control. He also thanked Adams County dispatch and the farmers for their help.

The Lind Fire Department responded to a stubble fire on Hatton and Foulkes roads on Aug. 4 at around 2 p.m.

Lind Fire Chief Kevin Starring said the department received assistance from the Connell Fire Department because the fire was close to the county line. He added the property owner used a disc create a fire line.

Starring noted the Lind and Connell crews quickly contained the blaze. He said the cause of the fire was from a truck, which was destroyed. He added less than 20 acres of stubble were damaged in the fire.

On Aug. 6, Lind fire crews deployed three trucks to a fire on Highway 21 and Franz Road. Starring noted the fire started from a combine and the farmer contained most of the fire. He added the blaze damaged less than five acres of stubble. The combine received minimal damage from the incident.

No injuries were reported at any of the fires.