Local responders engage junkyard, brush fires Friday

Local firefighters responded to a trio of fires in Ponderay, Cocolalla and the Selle Valley on Friday. Personnel were able to contain the burns; no injuries were reported for the incidents.

Ponderay junkyard fire 

Shortly after 2 a.m. April 25, Sandpoint Fire Department and Selkirk Fire, Rescue & EMS received a report of a structure fire near Hawthorne Avenue in Ponderay. Personnel from Northside Fire District arrived at the scene and discovered a large fire burning in a junkyard away from the road. 

The 100 feet by 150 feet fire was moving at a moderate rate of spread and advancing toward vehicles on the lot and a nearby forested area. Northside, Selkirk, Sandpoint and Sam Owen Fire District collaboratively suppressed the burn and worked to extinguish lingering hotspots. 

While Northside personnel remained on the scene in the ensuing days to completely knock out the fire, persistent heat caused a pile of tires to flare up Saturday evening. With help from local business S. Blood Company, responders used heavy machinery to tear apart the pile and suppress the burn. 

According to Selkirk, the incident was caused by a smoldering warming fire within the junkyard.   

Cocolalla brush fire 

On the same day, at about 2 p.m., Selkirk, Northside and Idaho Department of Lands personnel responded to a quarter-acre wildland fire near the 800 block of Cocolalla Loop Road. 

Responders contained the fire and held it to a less-than-1-acre area.

Selle Valley brush fire

At 3:41 p.m. Friday, three Northside personnel were dispatched to a brush fire near the 700 block of Grouse Creek Road. Responders discovered a 1.5-acre fire spreading at a slow pace and requested aid from Selkirk and IDL.

Firefighters were able to contain and suppress the burn.