Seven rural volunteer fire departments in Whitman County responded to a rare early spring wildland fire that threatened structures in Colfax Wednesday.
The blaze started around 5:30 near Schmuck Park inside the city on the East side of town. The City of Colfax Volunteer Fire Department was initially called to the fire. Flames moved up the canyon above the Palouse River burning grass, brush and timber. No Structures were damaged.
Volunteers from Whitman County Fire District 11 from Colfax, Albion, Steptoe and Diamond responded. They called in assistance from D12 out of Pullman D4 from Palouse D8 out of LaCrosse D3 from Garfield and D7 from Rosalia. Crews had the fire mostly out by nightfall. Volunteers monitored the blaze overnight. Crews will be mopping up the fire today. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Several volunteer rural fire districts responded to another wildfire in North Whitman County earlier on Wednesday.