Local firefighters busy last week

Structure fires in Ione, Newport

IONE — Firefighters responded to a house on Houghton Street in Ione Thursday, Feb. 26, at approximately 12:14 p.m.

According to Pend Oreille County Fire District 2 Facebook page, units responded immediately from Ione Station 25 to a fully involved structure fire, with additional resources arriving on scene. Firefighters had water flowing within six minutes of dispatch.

Through aggressive interior attack and coordinated efforts, the fire was knocked down within 20 minutes of arrival, and the structure was successfully saved, chief Christopher Haynes said.

“The fire was contained to the front living room and a second-story front bedroom,” Haynes said on Facebook. “No injuries or fatalities were reported, and no exposures (adjacent structures) were threatened.”

Firefighters worked for approximately 3 hours to fully contain, overhaul and secure the scene.

The cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation.

Apparatus on scene included four fire engines, two water tenders and six commands.

Haynes expressed thanks toward mutual aid partners Kalispel Tribal Fire and Pend Oreille County Fire District No. 5 for their rapid response and critical support.

“Teamwork like this saves homes and lives,” Haynes said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

On the north end of the county, South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue were called to a garage fire near Spring Valley Road Saturday, Feb. 28.

A detached garage was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. The fire was threatening a nearby house and outbuilding, but crews were able to put out the flames in time. A vehicle inside the garage was lost in the fire, but no injuries or fatalities were reported, according to chief Shane Stocking.

“We’re proud of our team’s response time and glad further damage could be prevented,” Stocking said.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.