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Haystack fire now believed to be an accident

Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 13 years, 9 months AGO
| September 20, 2011 9:00 PM

COEUR d'ALENE - A weekend haystack fire first suspected to be arson is now believed to be the result of an accident.

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue investigators said Monday the blaze that torched $8,250 worth of hay early Saturday morning on North Huetter Road in Kootenai County was likely caused by an errant cigarette.

"At this time it looks like it was just carelessness," said Shaena Dunn, KCFR spokeswoman.

It's the latest fire in the Post Falls area since August, but investigators don't believe the burns are related.

Kootenai County sheriff's deputies and firefighters responded to the blaze around 1 a.m. Saturday in a field on the east side of Huetter Road, south of Mullan Avenue. The owner of the haystacks told deputies it was 150 tons of hay, which firefighters contained to just the stack, according to deputy reports.

Reports state that because of the time and cool temperatures, investigators initially believed the cause to be arson. But Dunn said that discarded cigarette butts appeared to start a small fire nearby, eventually igniting the haystack.

On Aug. 5, a fire that destroyed an estimated 300 tons of hay worth $60,000 to $80,000 on the Rathdrum Prairie was also initially believed to be arson, reports state.

The hay, a premium grass used for feeding livestock, was stacked in three rows near the northeast corner of Highway 41 and Hayden Avenue north of Post Falls when it caught fire.

On July 11 and July 29 brush fires were set in Black Bay Park in Post Falls. At the time of the fires, the park was heavily populated.

On Aug. 1 and on Friday brush fires were set in Treaty Rock Park near the Spokane Street exit on Interstate 90.

No arrests have been made. Dunn called the string of fires "suspicious,"

"We don't have evidence connecting any of them," Dunn said.

Those with information on the park fires are encouraged to call 777-COPS or leave an anonymous tip at www.postfallspolice.com.

Those with information on the hay fire are urged to call the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office at 446-1300.

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