Fire threatens two homes
—Photo by KATHY NUSSBERGER<br>Late Monday afternoon multiple slash piles began burning out-of-control, resulting in the evacuation of two homes that were in immediate danger on Hooten Hollow Rd., just north of Bonners Ferry. Firefighters, emergency personnel and a crew from the Idaho Department of Lands responded to the scene.
By KATHY NUSSBERGER
Managing Editor
As the tones sounded late Monday afternoon, firefighters and ambulance personnel from throughout the county were either put on standby or dispatched to Hooten Hollow Road.
With mutual aid called out to the location at Flemming Creek Drainage just north of Bonners Ferry, an out-of-control fire threatened two homes on the hillside.
The first crew on scene was North Bench Volunteer Fire Department as well as Boundary County Sheriff Greg Sprungl, who helped firefighters evacuate an elderly couple, Chet and Bobby Goodson from their home.
Idaho Department of Lands responded to the scene with Curley Creek, Paradise Valley and South Boundary Volunteer Fire Departments arriving with additional water tenders and firefighters shortly thereafter.
According to Goodson, several slash piles had been burning for the past two or three days.
"I walked the fire sites Monday morning and everything was ok, but when the wind picked later that afternoon, it just took off," Goodson said.
As the wind gained speed, the fire began spreading through the underbrush and ladder fuels in the area, however, the swampy ground at the bottom of the hill helped firefighters keep the fire under control.
Despite some initial concern, the fire was under control and several of the volunteer fire departments were released from standby and the scene within about two hours.
Both homes were saved from the fire with no damage.