Fire crews knockdown Fishtrap Flames

FISHTRAP – Lincoln County Fire Protection District No. 1, led by Fire Chief Mitch Lowry, responded to a fire near Fishtrap Lake Sunday, July 11, around 7 p.m.

Fishtrap Lake is a reservoir located about 15 miles from Cheney in Lincoln County.

"I haven't gotten a morning update yet, but we had it knocked down pretty well under control," Lowry said early Monday morning, July 12, adding DNR and BLM crews mopped up overnight.

Lowry said he had seven trucks at the fire with at least two volunteers on each truck.

Also responding was Spokane Fire District No. 3.

"I also had one truck that came up mutual aid, from Whitman County District 5, which is Lamont," Lowry said.

He said the last estimate he received on how much acreage the fire burned was 80 acres.

"It has not been confirmed yet; they have to take a GPS and walk the perimeter with it, but the last guess I had gotten from them, they were thinking it was around 80 acres."

Lowry said DNR called in the air assets, single engine air tankers, or SEATs commonly referred to as Air Bosses.

Lowry said Lincoln County Fire Protection District No. 1 cleared out about 10 p.m.

He was not 100 percent certain of the cause.

"They didn't actually have definite witnesses, but it was started over by the shooting area, which always makes it suspect that it was caused by shooters," Lowry said. "But Burlington Northern also has a rail running through there, so it's also very possible it could have been started by a train."

Lowry said this year, fire conditions are uncommonly high.

"With as dry as we have been this year, our fire danger is earlier and higher than normal for this time of year," Lowry said.