Bicycle sparks Payette fire
Sunday, August 6, 2006 7:34 AM PDT
Blaze consumes more than 200 acres Friday along Idaho Highway 52
Julie Engel
Argus Observer
Payette
A loose bicycle hooked to the back of a recreational vehicle apparently sparked six grass fires along a two mile stretch of Idaho Highway 52 Friday afternoon.
Payette Rural Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Shirm Wolff said sparks flew from the bicycle into the dry grass along the highway, igniting fires from Little Willow Road to XL Hospice, situated at 2480 Idaho Highway 52.
“He was driving east to west,” Wolff said. “It was about a two mile stretch from Little Willow to Raby Lane.”
Shirm said the Payette Rural Fire Department was dispatched to the fire at 4:15 p.m.
The blaze burned a total of 250 acres of both private and public land.
Wolff said six structures were threatened in the fire, but firefighters managed to protect them from damage.
Firefighters from the Payette Fire Department, Fruitland Fire Department, Weiser City and Rural Fire Departments, New Plymouth Rural Fire Department, Ontario Rural Fire Department and the United States Bureau of Land Management helped extinguish the blazes. Also, Wolff said land owners helped by making fire breaks with tractors and discs.
“The man of the hour was the helicopter, and the numerous people up there helping us,” Wolff said.
Firefighters contained the blaze around 7:45 p.m., and continued to mop up until about 1 a.m., Wolff said. Payette Police Chief Mark Clark said officers from both the Payette Police Department and Payette County Sheriff's Office made contact with the RV's driver at Lonnie's Market in Payette. PCSO Det. Randy Cosner said a review will be conducted to determine if charges will be filed or if restitution will be paid to the fire department.
“Be cautious if you load recreational equipment on an RV,” Wolff said.
