The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Cars stack up as a fire along SR-174 on the hill toward Wilbur closed down the highway Friday while firefighters work to contain the blaze. Grand Coulee's volunteers answered the call about 4:30 p.m. The "Spring Canyon Fire" was eventually turned over to the state Dept. of Natural Resources fire crew. A helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft also joined the effort, which was successful in keeping the fire from reaching the rim of the canyon, where it could have taken off into fields, threatening structures. Grand Coulee Chief Ryan Fish said it burned 15-20 acres on the steep, rocky hillside. The road was closed for over an hour and a half as temperatures reached into the mid 100s.- Scott Hunter photos