By Ben Olson
Reader Staff
Two more Bonner County fires have been reported this week, one near Laclede and another just moments ago on the road leading up to Schweitzer Mountain Resort.
The Laclede blaze broke out Thursday around 4 p.m. and was responded to immediately by West Pend Oreille Fire District and some air personnel.
“It was just across from the Riley Creek Campground,” said Chief Les Kokanos of the West Pend Oreille Fire District. “There’s a big bay back there where kids jump into the water. Helicopters scooped water out of there. That’s what saved the day.”
Kokanos said there were three helicopters in action, as well as a handful of ground personnel, and the fire has been contained, burning just over nine acres.
The outbreak on Schweitzer Mountain is just minutes old, as of this writing, and both Schweitzer Fire and Selkirk Fire Departments are responding to the call. It is reported to have broken out either on switchback two or four.
“It doesn’t sound like it’s very big,” said Schweitzer event director Mary Weber-Quinn. “I was talking with someone who just came up the hill and didn’t even see it.”
We’ll release more information as soon as we receive it.
UPDATE 11 a.m. 7/24/15:
The fire at Schweitzer Mountain has been contained and is under control. It was spotted by cyclist John Harding, who reported it to authorities. Quick action by Schweitzer and Selkirk Fire Departments held the fire down to a “matter of feet.” No information is known about how it had begun.
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