An unusual early spring large wildland fire burned nearly 200 acres East of Rosalia on Wednesday.
Whitman County Fire District 7 Volunteers were called to the blaze on Ld Johnson Road around 11:30 in the morning. The fire started as a controlled burn. The 175 acre fire threatened three homes and farm equipment. Two brush fire trucks got stuck in the soft ground which forced volunteers to fight the fire with hand tools. A famer used a plow to help crews extinguished the flames.
Volunteers from Whitman County Fire District 10 out of Oakesdale D3 from Garfield D2 from St. John and D4 from Palouse were called in to assist.
Fire officials are reminding the public to use caution when burning because small fuels dry out quickly.