Williams Lake Fire: 3,000 acres burned, Red Cross shelter opened

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Fire threatens 100 structures. Wednesday's fire destroyed two buildings and a fire truck. Wednesday afternoon, a wildfire erupted near Williams Lake in Cheney. [{ "selector": ".fbqbw-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "1500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": "1"} ] }]

Two structures were demolished, a fire engine was wrecked, and approximately 40 homes were evacuated. [{ "selector": ".xpnot-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "1500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": "1"} ] }]

Fire started at 2:34 p.m. Wednesday. Heavy winds spread the fire quickly when firefighters arrived. The fire is 0-10% contained, according to Spokane County District 3 Fire Chief Cody Rohrbach. [{ "selector": ".boacx-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "1000ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "opacity": 0}, {"offset": 1, "opacity": "1"} ] }]

39 homes were evacuated Wednesday night. Threatened are 100 homes and 400 structures. Two structures are total losses, according to Rohrbach. All firefighters aboard a fire engine escaped unharmed.

The Washington DNR sent two tankers to help fight the fire. Spokane, Whitman, and Lincoln counties also helped, according to Fire District 3. Wednesday around 5 p.m., state fire aid was mobilised.

In response to the Williams Lake Fire, the Red Cross will open a shelter at Cheney High School. Open at 10 p.m. Red Cross says the facility will provide food, cots, and other necessities.