Two small fires ignite in Kingston

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This article ran on the front page of the Wednesday, August 21, 2013 edition of the Shoshone News-Press. If you remember this story, or other BLAST FROM THE PAST articles, let us know by writing us or commenting online.

Two small fires with unknown causes ignited Tuesday (August 20, 2013) on the shoulder of Silver Valley Road in Kingston south of Interstate 90.

Shoshone County Fire Protection District 2 responded to the area less than a mile west of the Exxon Gas Station on Silver Valley Road. The fire call – the first for incoming District 2 Fire Chief Mark Aamodt, who is shadowing Chief Dale Costa – came in around 5:30 p.m.

Aamodt said crews immediately got a hose on the two fires upon arrival.

By 6 p.m., there was no smoke evident and Costa said there were two fires burning about 30 yards apart from each other on the same side of the road.

It was evident that one of the fires climbed up two tall trees, charring the base of each as well as the surrounding ground.

Fire crews were using chain saws, shovels and axes to clear branches and create a fire break to prevent any possible smoldering pieces of material from spreading.

“It’s unusual when you have fires that are separated apart so far,” Costa said. “We’ll look at it to come up with the most logical explanation we can.”