Elk Creek fire scorches several structures, vehicles
Photos by CHANSE WATSON/ SCFD No. 2 firefighters aim a water hose at the central living trailer, believed to be where the fire began.
A wide shot of the original structures on fire. When crews arrived on scene, these buildings were already completely engulfed.
A SCFD No. 2 firefighter attempts to quell the fire that spread to one of the nearby vehicles.
Smoke bellows out of the living enclosure attached to the main living trailer.
A SCFD No. 2 firefighter attacks the center of the blaze.
What remained of the main living trailer after the fire had died down a bit.
ELK CREEK – There was little that emergency crews could have done to save several structures affected by a fire Tuesday night, as many were completely engulfed in flames even before a call for help went out.
Shoshone County Fire District No. 2 Chief Mark Aamodt tells the News-Press that firefighters received a report of a structure fire at 261B Elk Creek Rd. at 4:50 p.m.
The affected structures were located at the top of a small hill, only accessible via a single-lane, dirt driveway. This terrain created a bit of a logistical problem for emergency crews, as there simply wasn’t enough room to get all of their vehicles up the hill and to the scene.
The fire initially started with the main structures, which included a living trailer (plus its enclosure) and three sheds.
By the time SCFD No. 2 arrived on scene at 4:57 p.m. though, the blaze had chewed through the main structures and was quickly moving to two nearby vehicles, a camper-trailer, and the northern hillside.
“As soon as I went around the corner at Montgomery Gulch, you could see the glow above the ridges,” Chief Aamodt said. “The living quarters and sheds were very well involved by the time we got on scene.”
On top of the blaze, firefighters also had to be cautious of a burnt powerline on the northwest side that was intermittently shooting out sparks. Avista personnel were called to the incident and shut off the power not long after the first crews arrived. Once their hose lines were established, fire crews worked to limit the spread of the fire as best as possible. This was a tall task, as there was a significant amount of combustible materials located around the affected structures.
By 9:20 p.m., the fire had been extinguished and crews had left the scene.
All four original structures and one burned-out vehicle have been declared total losses. A second vehicle and the nearby camper-trailer received fire/water damage, but were ultimately saved.
No human fatalities or injuries resulted from the incident, but there were an unknown number of possible cat deaths. A dog who was believed to have been trapped in a kennel when the fire began was later found unharmed.
While the cause of the fire remains undetermined, Aamodt believes the area of ignition was the central living trailer.
“With the amount of destruction there, the potential causes are too many to eliminate.”
The residents of the structure reportedly left their home 45 prior to the fire occurring and don’t have any idea of what the cause was either.
Deputies with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office were also on-scene to assist.
Aamodt was pleased with how everyone responded to the situation and handled themselves.
“The crews did a fantastic job. They hit it and they hit it hard. It went really smooth.”
Even with the cause being undetermined, Aamodt stresses that residents should be mindful this winter when using wood stoves, space heaters and extension cords. Many winter-season structure fires are caused by improper use of these items.